Solution: Environmental simulations
Solution: Environmental simulations
Environmental simulation tests
Environmental simulation tests
Environmental simulation tests enable you to check the durability and life cycle of your products under extreme environmental influences. By simulating a wide range of temperature and climate conditions, it is possible to analyze whether your product will function properly in the planned operating environment as early as the development phase. In addition to the advantages accompanying development, the simulations can also be used for weak point analyses, benchmarking of various products or an artificially induced ageing process. Using defined temperature change cycles, we determine to what extent and in what period of time the product changes in fast motion. An artificial ageing process is thus carried out within a very short time.
TÜV AUSTRIA offers a wide range of environmental simulation options
In our differently designed climate chambers in Vienna, Austria, we can replicate almost any environmental impact – from snow, ice, water, dust and salt spray to adapted temperatures.
- Controlled humidity from 10-97 % in a defined temperature window
- Temperatures from – 40° to 160
- Environmental simulation snow:
Products and components that are exposed to typical winter conditions can be massively impaired in their functionality and efficiency by snowfall. Our environmental simulation chamber can simulate all types of snow that occur in nature. We work with different “snow recipes” for this purpose.
Snow components:
Air temperature – Water quantity – Room humidity
- Possible volume:
3.2m3 of snow in 24 hours. - Consistency:
wet or dry snow (measurement of free water in the snow) - Fall height:
can be calculated by the speed of the machine. - Specifications:
variable – we simulate according to the desired factory specifications
- Natural snowflakes/dendrite:
- Flake size:
1-3 mm - Temperature:
3° to -10° (snowfall id nature around 0°) - Weight:
200-500 kgsnow/m3 - Use:
mostly stationary outdoor installations
- Flake size:
- The finest snow crystals:
When mechanically transformed, fine crystal snow corresponds to the snow that is crushed on snow-covered roads. In nature, it is precisely this snow that a car or train whirls up while driving. The small hexagonal crystals threaten to block cracks, air intakes or cooling air inlets, for example.
- Flake size:
> 1 mm - Temperature:
below -5° - Weight:
300 kgsnow/m3 - Application:
stationary & variable outdoor installations & test objects
- Environmental simulation ice:
In the icing of appliances, the effect of the expansion of water at low temperatures is used to test the resistance of a product to icing. There are 2 possibilities for icing. The products are either iced under a normal atmosphere (simulation of e.g. rain in cold conditions) or under a lower atmosphere (cyclical) to simulate the “breathing” of the test specimen. An example of this would be possible icing in the aviation sector when flying through a cloud. For this purpose, frost formation with small layer thicknesses is simulated in our environmental simulation chamber.
Icing thickness:
several centimeters are possible – layer thickness
Layer thickness depends on the desired target
- Environmental simulations heat/cold/humidity:
The climate test is the simplest form of providing a defined air temperature (temperature storage). Dry heat, as in the desert, can be realized as well as a warm and humid tropical climate. In combination with various scenarios of a humidity cycle test, the ageing process of your products can be easily visualized to determine their service life.
- Environmental simulation rain:
This simulation option is also part of our IP protection test. However, rain simulation is also possible as a stand-alone option if rain is required at a certain temperature (which does not comply with the IP standard) – e.g. as a precursor to ice.
- Environmental simulation of solar radiation:
The change in surface & material is tested using different irradiation intensities & irradiation compositions to prove the lightfastness and structural stability of your products.
- Environmental simulation dust:
Sand and dust tests are carried out in order to be able to observe the effect of dust or sand on various objects. One possibility for dust tests is the investigation of effects – such as the removal of lettering on labels, blunting of glass surfaces, or the mechanical failure of moving components (e.g.: EN 60068-2-68). Another application for dust testing is IP protection testing.
- Environmental simulation IP protection:
External factors such as water and dust can affect the safety of electrical devices. We check compliance with your desired protection classes (e.g. in accordance with EN 60529, ISO 20653). This tells you which environmental conditions your products can withstand.
- Environmental simulation of salt spray:
In the salt spray test, the product is exposed to a salt spray environment to test the corrosion behavior of metals and alloys. The product requirements for quality and durability are thus ensured (e.g.: EN 60068-2-52).
- Environmental simulation acoustics:
To ensure compliance with limit values, we pay attention to the sound power level of an appliance in operation.
Environmental simulation. Mapping reality in the test laboratory
This application example quickly shows how much time and money an environmental simulation test can save:
Initial situation:
- Damage to a heat exchanger
- Failure of the entire production plant
- Our customer was unable to reproduce the functional failure
Test situation:
- The heat exchanger was tested in the climate chamber, in simulated operation and under a wide range of environmental conditions.
- Within just a few days, our experts were able to find the operating condition in which the defect occurred.
Result:
- The TÜV AUSTRIA experts were able to quickly localize the damaged area
- As a result, our customer was able to rectify the defect quickly
- The continuation of production was thus ensured in a timely manner
- Production downtime costs were minimized considerably
The advantages of environmental simulation testing
at a glance
- Simulation of near-natural environmental influences
- Product suitability tests
- Mapping of the ageing process in fast motion
- Proof of the necessary product quality requirements
- Reduction of the product liability risk
- Cost optimization as early as the development phase
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