Research infrastructure

The equipment allows research into complex, technology-intensive tasks:

  • Verification and validation of research and development solutions in the field of vehicle technologies for road and rail transportation
  • Development and application of new test procedures
  • Support for complex technology topics through
  • special tests

We are also happy to adapt our test benches to your measurement requirements.

Four-engine All-wheel Roller Rig with Climate Control and Exhaust Analysis

An excellently equipped system for developing new propulsion concepts is available to engineers at the Institute of Vehicle Concepts. The climate controllable all-wheel roller rig with exhaust analysis is designed for passenger motor vehicles of all classes as well as small transporters.

Dynamic High Strain Component Test Facility – Crash Test Facility

In addition to novel vehicle concepts, the research field ‘Lightweight and Hybrid Design Methods’ is also developing new technologies in the area of body in white (BIW) development.

Electric motor test bench

The ongoing electrification of the drivetrain in cars and trains requires in-depth analyses of the drive, taking into account the respective boundary conditions and application scenarios.

Joining laboratory

The research field lightweight and hybrid design methods concerns itself with classical and novel joining technologies for vehicle structures in multi material design.

DLR Scenario Lab

The techno-economic and ecological assessment of future development covers the aspects of society, economy, environment, technology, politics and infrastructure. The evaluation is based on the scientifically sound vehicle technology scenario model VECTOR21.

Automated material card derivation for crash simulation

Execution of experimental material characterization tests and numerical studies with coupled optimization strategies for fast and efficient derivation of validated material maps for the explicit solvers LS Dyna and VPS (PAM CRASH).

Research laboratory: Future Lab for Additive Manufacturing & Engineering (FLAME)

On the one hand, additive manufacturing processes open up extraordinary freedom in the design process, and on the other, the independence from product-specific and moulding tools increases flexibility in production.

Concept LAB

The research area Lightweight and Hybrid Design Methods created the Concept LAB, a state of the art work surrounding for the employment of developing methods and for working on projects more efficiently and optimized in their processes.

Component and Sample Testing

Machines for quasi-static and dynamic loading are available for testing samples and small components. Samples can also be climate controlled over prolonged cycle time intervals.

Corrosion testing

The research field ‘lightweight and hybrid design methods’ concerns itself with the topic of corrosion protection for automobile and rail vehicle construction.

Simulation and calculation cluster

The Institute uses several nodes of the CASE2 cluster for component and overall vehicle crash simulation. Various overall vehicle crash simulations can be executed simultaneously within a few hours with its help.

Static Load Test Facility

A static load test facility with hydraulic test cylinders is available for mechanical investigations. Static load tests or, by applying load changes, service life investigations can be conducted with it.

Thermal high-performance storage for vehicle application

A generally known problem for electric vehicles is the range reduction during winter months. The implementation of high-performance thermal storage units offers an attractive solution to provide the thermal energy for interior heating and increase range in winter term conditions.

Hot gas test bench

The impact of the overall system in combustion engine cars needs to be examined with regard to the exhaust energy recovery systems developed at the Institute of Vehicle Concepts during experimental research on such systems.