Stone impact tests on car radiators

SDAAC tests with testing technology from Hegewald & Peschke

Hegewald & Peschke has delivered a newly designed test stand for stone impact tests on car radiators to SDAAC.

SDAAC (Automotive Air-Conditioning Systems) specializes in vehicle heating system solutions. The test stand was delivered to the Polish site of SDAAC together with a test stand for pendulum impact tests.

Both test benches are used to test the durability of radiator designs. The tests are carried out according to a manufacturer-specific test specification.

Functional principle of the stone impact tester:

The balls are inserted into a magazine provided for this purpose and shot with air pressure at the inner tubes of the cooler systems. A laser pointer is used for aiming. At a speed of about 140 km/h, the balls hit the test specimen. The balls consist of hard cast granulate and have a diameter of 4-5mm (DIN EN ISO 11124-2).

The distance between magazine and sample can be adjusted in the range of 150 to 600mm according to requirements.

Per test there are 40 stone impacts on the specimen. The testing machine detects shot, speed and position on the target. Additional software is not necessary.

The inner walls are covered with rubber to reduce noise. Testing machine & type of measurement were realized according to the requirements of the VDA.