The Krumbein Aircraft Structures Laboratory (ASL) was established in 1957 as a center of experimental
research, instruction and dissemination of information on advanced aerospace
structures, as well as to support industrial activity with advanced structural
static and dynamic testing. The laboratory houses the Lichtenbaum Laboratory for
Structural Dynamics and the Dresher Laboratory for studies of damage in
composite structures. The laboratory is equipped with:
Three MTS electrodynamic closed-loop testing machines of 10 ton, 25 ton and 50 ton capacity, respectively. The MTS machines are operable under controlled-ramp loading, constant-amplitude cyclic loading and flight spectrum loading simulation. This allows a large variety of research on stress, stability, durability and damage tolerance and fatigue.
A NDT program led to the development of a genuine system and technique for simultaneous measurement of the mode shapes and eigenfrequencies of vibrating shells, as well as measurement of their initial geometrical imperfections. This allows in situ nondestructive determination of buckling loads of real shell structures.
A variety of instrumentation, including multichannel data loggers and numerical processors for high-speed recording and processing of fast dynamic phenomena.
Facilities for conducting fatigue tests at elevated temperatures up to 1100°C. A two ton Rumul resonance machine for small-scale accelerated fatigue-studies.
An air gun to simulate damage in composite structures subjected to moderate speed impact of projectiles.
A setup for detecting and mapping of damages in composites, overall and interlaminar.
The lab is equipped with Finite Element and Finite Differences multipurpose computer programs for static and dynamic analysis. These can be operated with either the computer system of the lab, or by access to the Technion Computer Center facilities.
Facilities for studying blade dynamics, including a small vacuum chamber and a device for testing small models of blades in atmosphere.
The laboratory is also equipped with a 650 ton·m capacity stiffened flow to permit testing of very large scale industrial type structural elements.