FKM‐Richtlinie „Bruchmechanischer Festigkeitsnachweis für Maschinenbauteile”︁

FKM‐Guideline “Fracture Mechanics Proof of Strength for Engineering Components” The German guideline “Fracture Mechanics Proof of Strength for Engineering Components” [1, 2] has been released 2001 as a result of activities sponsored by the Research Committee on Mechanical Engineering (FKM), task group “Component Strength”. The guideline describes basics for the integrity assessment of cracked components subjected to static or cyclic loading and provides a step‐by‐step computational procedure for the use in engineering practice. The guideline was formulated based on a number of national and international reference documents, in particular SINTAP [3], R6 [4], BS 7910 [5] and DVS‐2401 [6], recent research results and some own key aspects. Since 2004 it is also available in English. The procedures and solutions of the guideline are implemented in the computer program FracSafe [7]. The latest 3rd edition of the guideline (2006) includes several new topics. These allow for the consideration of special effects at cyclic loading, mixed mode loading, dynamic (impact) loading, stress corrosion cracking and probabilistic aspects in fracture mechanics calculations. There is a compendium of stress intensity factors and limit load solutions and a compendium of material data. A lot of examples and case studies are included to demonstrate the application of the procedure to engineering problems. This paper gives an overview of the guideline [1].     

Intelligente Schichten für „denkende Oberflächen”︁

Smart coatings for intelligent surfaces The manufacturing of intelligent surfaces according to examples in nature is an important research topic for the near future. Nowadays several coatings exist which are able to adapt their properties to environmental conditions. Prominent examples are windows with switchable transmission or self‐cleaning surfaces based on photocatalysis. Novel thin films exhibiting excellent tribological as well as sensoric properties open new ways for the future design of driving components. Examples are diamond‐like carbon films which can be used as extremely hard force sensors. They are able to detect and influence the state of surfaces under mechanical load. There is a huge variety of potential applications for such sensors.     

Betriebsanleitungen nach der EG-Richtlinie „Maschinen”︁

Europe takes shape. National interests must give way to european interests. Laws, standards and other rules of technic must be reduced to a common denominator, the european standard. The EG-Rules for machines has already been integrated into some national rules. At the beginning of 1995 it shall replace completely the national rules. At the latest on this date the technical documentation has to be adapted.