ProClimb

Hardware Parts made of Fiber-Reinforced-Plastic-Composite for Belt Systems

The aim of the project is the development of hardware parts for climbing harnesses made of fiber reinforced polymer composites. Thereby, a weight reduction improving the ergonomics, an improvement in the insulation effect to avoid electric voltage surges and an increase in the service lifetime during use under adverse conditions is targeted.

High demands are placed on climbing harness systems for working at high altitudes, e.g. in the construction and maintenance of overhead lines and wind power plants. For safe and ergonomic working, a lower weight of the overall system, ensuring the electrical insulation effect of the hardware parts and resistance in adverse environmental conditions are particularly important. Currently, the hardware parts are made of metals or light metals. Within the project ProClimb, fiber reinforced polymer composites (FRP) will be used for the production of such hardware parts for the first time. This results in a great potential for optimization due to the very good specific strength and stiffness as well as the electrical insulation and resistance to environmental influences of FRP. The main focus of the developments is on woven fiber strands manufactured by the project partner INOBELT and corresponding preforming and injection techniques. To achieve a high level of lightweight construction, IVW is developing a parametric finite element model, which allows to derive design specifications and construction guidelines for hardware components made of FRP.

Field of competence

Industry sectors

Project status

  • Archived

Project partners

  • Inobelt GmbH

Contacts

Dr.-Ing.

Nicole Motsch-Eichmann

Manager Design of Composite Structures

Telephone: +49 631 2017 423

nicole.motsch@leibniz-ivw.de

Fundings

The project “ProClimb – Hardware parts made of fiber-reinforced-plastic-composite for belt systems for personal safety during work on tall structures” is funded by the Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Energy on the basis of a decision by the German Bundestag (funding reference ZF4052312EB6).