The mechanical engineering and materials experts

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Experienced – reliable – innovative

Dr Stefan HaasCEO TÜV AUSTRIA Group

TVFA and TÜV AUSTRIA – two strong brands are pooling their materials engineering and mechanical engineering com-petencies in a joint venture to open up new opportunities to customers and partners with a broad portfolio of safety & security services. Not only does this increase the innovative capacity, it also boosts the competitive edge. Guaranteed.

Univ. Prof. Dr Sabine SeidlerRector TU Wien

TVFA is a corporate partnership between TU Wien and TÜV AUSTRIA that combines many years of research experience and successful practical application in the fields of testing, in-spection and certification of technical products and compo-nents. The pooling also serves to strengthen Austria’s position as a research and innovation location.

Dr Joachim RajekScientific and Technical Director

Result-oriented, on time and officially accredited: TVFA pro-vides safety as a technical platform at the interface between industry and science. We handle any tasks concerning materi-als and develop test processes for our customers and partners that are both customized and cost-effective. Our test results provide added value and safety to you.

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Our expertise for your company

TVFA sees itself as a technical platform at the interface between industry and science that pro-vides expert knowledge as a service to mechanical engineering and civil engineering companies, to technicians, private builder-owners, manufacturers and operators of systems, machinery and buildings, taking into account all relevant criteria such as safety & security, profitability, quality and environmental protection.

We set standards

As an accredited testing, inspection and certification body we undertake to maintain a high-level quality management system (EN ISO/IEC 17020, EN ISO/IEC 17025, EN ISO/IEC 17065). This is to ensure precision, accuracy and transparency with regard to our test, inspection and certification results as well as legal security for our customers and partners.

Your benefit

The extensive specialist knowledge of our technicians and the use of state-of-the-art methods achie-ve goal-oriented solutions. This saves time and reduces costs. Because companies whose new technical products have a short time to market break even a lot faster.

– Assistance with approval procedures – Top-quality reliable performance of tests and

inspections – Implementation of customer-specific require-

ments and solutions – Maintenance recommendations to extend

safe service life and optimize costs

– Shorter and simpler approval procedures – International recognition of our test results – Flexibility and adherence to deadlines in ser-vice of our customers and partners

– Implementation of special requirements and company-specific solutions

– Access to TÜV AUSTRIA Group facilities

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General mechanical engineering

Mechanical testing and characterization of components and materials. To determine their mecha-nical properties, TVFA tests materials composed of metal, mineral composites, fiber composites, plastic, rubber and much more. High-voltage overhead line conductors, guy wires, prestressing steels, concrete steels, reinforcing steel connectors, prestressing steel anchors and other connections are subjected to wide-ranging testing in the course of inspection and certification procedures.

We test under realistic conditions and have appropriate facilities, even for complex structures and large components. Use of state-of-the-art metallographic methods completes our range of services in mechanical testing.

Our services

– Load tests up to 2,500 kN and clamping lengths up to 50 m

– Vibration fatigue tests with a variety of testing equipment for industrial components and standardized specimens

– Determination of material properties for FEM simulation (e.g. fracture toughness)

– Cyclic loading and service load tests (low-cycle/high-cycle fatigue)

– Ballistic device for impact tests up to 200 m/s

– Crash tests for safety-related components

– Vibration and oscillation measurements – Torsion testing – Mechanical-technological materials testing – Non-destructive test methods – Chemical analyses, metallography, scanning

electron microscopy – Hot tensile testing – Corrosion testing, salt spray tests – Damage analyses in accordance with VDI 3822

– Special applications on request

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Technical services and damage analyses

TVFA has high-performance measurement technology at its disposal, including the capability of monitoring to precisely determine and observe the physical quantities of components, parts, etc. These measurements make it possible to simulate realistic loads in the laboratory as well as to opti-mize and check calculations.

Our many years of experience and practical expertise at the current state of technology enable us to successfully clarify causes of damage and, through appropriate measures, prevent consequential damage and repeated errors.

Our services

– Component strength calculation for linear- elastic and elastic-plastic deformations, influence of temperature field and heat, thermally induced residual stresses, natural vibrations

– Calculation of elastic buckling, fatigue behavior and service life assessment

– Verifications of static and dynamic loading – Fracture mechanical examinations and

calculations of crack growth behavior and fracture toughness

– Assessment of the load-bearing capacity and service life of damaged components

– Determination of physical quantities such as: distensions, travel distances, accelerations, forces and temperatures, both in use and under testing

– Consultancy regarding the selection of materials

– Consultancy regarding welding – Consultancy regarding inspections – General damage analyses, expert opinion

services – Inspection of equipment, components and

parts – Customized testing according to customer

requirements

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Component testing in the railroad industry

The field of component testing in the railroad industry is a special focus of TVFA as an accredited body.Our services include damping systems, ties, rail fastening systems, wheel and machine components, overhead lines and the connections and guy wires they require, as well as rails and rail joints.

Our services

– Testing and approval of welding processes – Component testing for:

– Rail fastening systems in accordance with EN 13481 and EN 13146 – Track ties and switch ties in accordance

with EN 13230 – Cavity-wall ties, track ties and switch

ties in accordance with EN 16431 – Aluminothermically welded rails in

accordance with EN 14730 – Flash-butt welded rails in accordance

with EN 14587 – Insulated rail joints and clamping elements

according to technical delivery conditions – Tensile strength tests of fastening

components in accordance with EN 13481 – Intermediate plates and sub-ballast mats (spring characteristics) according to technical delivery conditions

– Catenary components (catenary wire, guy wires, connecting elements) according to technical delivery conditions

– Load tests up to 2,500 kN, vibration fatigue tests, spring characteristics

– Residual stress analyses (cut-out method and hole-drilling method)

– Monitoring and on-site measurements for vehicles and tracks in operation

– Corrosion testing, salt spray tests in accordance with relevant standards

– Damage analyses of components in accordance with VDI 3822

– Chemical analyses and metallography – Supervision and guidance for production

development processes – Special applications on request

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Automotive and Aviation

TVFA has been active in the automotive services sector for decades. We carry out various load tests, vibration fatigue tests and crash tests for safety-relevant components, thereby ensuring a higher level of safety.

Our services

– Load tests up to 2,500 kN – Vibration fatigue tests with a variety of

testing equipment for: – Industrial components – Standardized specimens

– Determination of material properties for FEM simulation:

– Cyclic loading – Service load tests (low-cycle/

high-cycle fatigue) – Crash tests for safety-related components

– Vibration and oscillation measurements – Torsion testing – Mechanical-technological materials testing – Non-destructive test methods – Chemical analyses, metallography, scanning

electron microscopy – Corrosion testing, salt spray tests – Damage analyses in accordance with VDI 3822

– Special applications on request

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Overhead line conductors and cables

TVFA makes cables safer. With our test methods and our expertise, we ensure the quality of over-head line conductors and wire ropes in general to guarantee safety for high-voltage power lines as well as for crane systems, lift installations and cableway systems.

Our services

Steel cables – Tensile tests up to 2,500 kN, clamping

lengths up to 50 m – Determination of the elastic modulus – Single-wire tests (tensile testing, bending

testing, torsion testing, wind testing) – Wire ropes & cableway cables in accordance with DSB 80, ÖNORM M 9500

– Magnetic-inductive testing of cables

Overhead line conductors, light-wave cables (OPGW, OPPC) – Tensile tests in accordance with EN 50182,

including determination of the elastic modulus

– Product certifications according to customer specifications

– Clamping lengths up to 50 m, heating up to 220 °C

– Creep tests in accordance with EN 61395 – Measuring of thermal expansion coefficients

and transition points of high-temperature overhead line conductors according to user guidelines

– Single-wire tests in accordance with EN 50182

– Vibration test according to user guidelines – Temperature-change tests in accordance with EN 61284

– Damage analyses of cables in accordance with VDI 3822

– Chemical analyses – Special applications on request

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Magnetic-inductive testing of cables

TVFA technicians have decades of experience in the testing of cableway components and periodic testing of hauling, traction and support cables by means of magnetic-inductive testing.

Our services

– Accredited methods of magnetic-inductive testing, visual inspection of cableway cables, bridge cables, guy wires and cable crane cables with diameters from 6 mm to 80 mm

– Testing of cables in accordance with EN 12927-8, Wire Rope Conditions (DSB) 80 and Ski-tow Guidelines

– Non-destructive tests in accordance with Annex 2 of the Cableway Inspection Regulation (SeilbÜV) 2013

– Management of measurement data in our database for historical analysis of test results

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Cableway systems

The testing of components for cableway systems is a special focus of TVFA. Our services range from tension measurements for vehicles on-site, slipping resistance tests for grips and fatigue tests in the laboratory to magnetic-inductive testing of cables.

This is to ensure that cableway systems are safe for year-round leisure and sports activities.

Our services

– Tension measurements for vehicles of single- cable and dual-cable circulating cableways, dual-cable aerial tramways, triple-cable aerial tramways, funicular railways and chassis for funicular railways in accordance with EN 13796-1

– Fatigue tests in the laboratory in accordance with EN 13796-3

– Slipping resistance tests for grips in accordance with EN 13796-2

– Gripping force measurements in accordance with EN 13796-1

– Acceleration measurements for comfort assessments of vehicles

– Cableway cables (see Overhead line conductors and cables)

– Tensile tests up to 2,500 kN, clamping lengths up to 50 m

– Determination of the elastic modulus – Approval of wires and cables – Single-wire tests (tensile testing, bending

testing, torsion testing) – Magnetic-inductive testing of cables – Cable bearing force measurements – Monitoring and measurement technology

applications – Cableway inspections in accordance with Ca-

bleway Inspection Regulation (SeilbÜV) 2013

– Tests in accordance with Chairlift Guideline 1993 and Wire Rope Conditions (DSB) 80

– Non-destructive tests – Damage analyses of cableway components

in accordance with VDI 3822 – Special applications on request

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Tensioning systems, prestressing steel and reinforcing steel

TVFA is not only a reliable partner in the testing and inspection of metallic building materials. In the course of its many years of collaboration with standardization committees, it has also contri-buted its experience to the development of current standards.

This kind of know-how plays a significant part in approval processes, registration for the Austrian certificate of conformity (ÜA) and the CE marking.

Our services

Tensioning systems – Accredited testing, inspection and

certification body for ETAG 013 – Identity checks of tensioning system

components – Static tensile tests for pretensioning tendons

up to 20,000 kN – Fatigue tests for pretensioning tendons up

to 10,000 kN – Load transmission tests up to 18,000 kN

Prestressing steel – Accredited testing, inspection and c

ertification body for ÖNORM B 4758 and prEN 10138

– Testing of: – Geometric and mechanical requirements – Isothermal relaxation – Axial vibration fatigue test – Resistance to stress corrosion cracking

Reinforcing steel – Accredited testing, inspection and

certification body for ÖNORM B 4707 and prEN 10080

– Testing of geometric and mechanical requirements

– Axial vibration fatigue test – Mechanical-technological materials testing – Non-destructive test methods – Chemical analyses, metallography, scanning

electron microscopy – Corrosion testing, salt spray tests – Damage analyses in accordance with VDI 3822

– Special applications on request

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Research and development

The pooling of scientific expertise with practical experience in materials engineering and me-chanical engineering makes TVFA a strong partner with research and development support for technology companies and engineering firms as well as operators and manufacturers of technical products.

In addition to tests and accreditations, we also carry out research and development projects for our customers and partners. And we do so to the highest standards, with optimum results.

The pooling of the theoretical and practical knowledge of experts from TU Wien with TÜV AUSTRIA serves to support you in all matters concerning materials application and design – from standard tests to complex research projects.

Our services

– Behavior of materials under dynamic stresses – Wheel-to-rail contact, as well as causal

research on wheel and rail fractures – Development of test equipment, e.g. for

non-destructive test methods – Material development of fiber-reinforced

expanded polystyrene – Damage prevention and analysis

– Development in the field of fiber composite materials

– Measurement of physical quantities for prototype components in the laboratory or in test operation

– Determination of mechanical-technological material characteristics for precise FEM simulation

The mechanical engineering andmaterials engineering experts

Gutheil-Schoder-Gasse 171230 Vienna

office@tvfa.at

www.tvfa.atPhotos: Shutterstock, TU Wien, TVFA, TÜV archive, Doppelmayr Seilbahnen GmbH

© TÜV AUSTRIA TVFA Prüf- und Forschungs GmbH 05/17