TecLab - Tectonic Modelling Laboratory

The Anton Paar modular compact rheometer MCR302e has a torque range from 0.5 to 230 mNm a normal force range up to 50 N, a Peltier temperature device for measurements in the temperature range of -10 to 220oC, and an integrated active thermal management. For detailed specs, please consult the Anton Paar website. This apparatus allows for performing a number of measurement routines in shear and oscillation mode (amplitude and frequency sweeps) for an accurate rheologic characterization (viscosity, time and temperature dependent flow properties, visco-elastic properties, Maxwell relaxation times, etc.) of materials used in physical analogue modelling and beyond such as polymers, gelatines, oils, etc. The measured data are analysed with the RheoCompass software, which contains 100 predefined and customizable measurement templates.

In our fully non-contacting set-up, an acoustic source wave is generated at the model’s surface by a remotely pulsed laser (Quantel QSmart 450). This acoustic pulse propagates through the model and is diffracted and refracted, and all signals are measured at another point of the surface using a laser Doppler vibrometer (LDV), PolyTec VibroFlex QTec.

This 130 kV medical CT scanner has a maximum spatial resolution of ca. 0.6 mm and a field of view of 40 cm.