Research Group RELIABLE

Reliability of polymers under mechanical and environmental loads

Research Fields

The research in the field of RELIABLE - Reliable polymers under under mechanical and environmental loads - is devoted to the following topics:

  • Polymers and Composites under complex multiaxial mechanical and environmental loads
  • Application of fracture mechanics in materials science and design
  • Polymers and Composites for structural and long term applications
  • Polymers and composites for additive manufacturing and in medicine and bionic

Team

2021-05_Pinter__2_
​© Department Kunststofftechnik

     Univ.-Prof. Dipl.-Ing. Dr.mont. Gerald Pinter
     Head of RELIABLE Group

   +43 3842 402 - 2100
    gerald.pinter(at)unileoben.ac.at  
    Profil (Pure) | Profil (MUonline)

    Specialties: polymer mechanics, fracture mechanics, life-time prediction, durability and reliability of structural polymers, fatigue testing

    © Department Kunststofftechnik

Reza-Afsharnia
​© Department Kunststofftechnik

    Reza Afsharnia, Lis. Fogh-lis.

    reza.afsharnia(at)unileoben.ac.at
    +43 3842 402 - 2139
    Profil (Pure)

    Research: Fatigue analysis, fracture mechanics, thermomechanical behavior of short fiber reinforced
     polymers

 

2021_Arbeiter__2_
© Department Kunststofftechnik

    Priv.-Doz. Dipl.-Ing. Dr.mont. Florian Arbeiter

    florian.arbeiter(at)unileoben.ac.at 
    +43 3842 402 - 2122
    Profil (Pure) | Profil (MUOnline)

    Research: Polymeric pipe grade materials, multi-layered systems and structures, fracture mechanics,
     mechanical impact and high-speed testing

     © Department Kunststofftechnik

2021-05_Gfrerrer_Ausschnitt
​© Department Kunststofftechnik

    Dipl.-Ing. Maria Gfrerrer

    maria.gfrerrer(at)unileoben.ac.at 
    +43 3842 402 - 2190
    Profil (Pure)

    Research:

     © Department Kunststofftechnik

Michael-Huszar
​© Department Kunststofftechnik

    Dipl.-Ing. Michael Huszar

    michael.huszar@unileoben.ac.at
    +43 3842 402 - 2136
    Profil (MUOnline)

    Research:

 

2026-03_MaurerCarina_web
© Department Kunststofftechnik

    Dipl.-Ing. Carina Maurer

    carina.maurer@unileoben.ac.at 
    +43 3842 402 -
    Profil (Pure)

    Research: tbd

 

2024_Pferschy_Matthias_web
​© Department Kunststofftechnik

    Dipl.-Ing. Matthias Pferschy

    matthias.pferschy@unileoben.ac.at 
    +43 3842 402 - 2130
     Profil (Pure)

        Research: Quasi-static materials testing, Mechanical characterization of Li-ion batteries, Testing on thin films

 

2021-04_GeraldPilz_Ausschnitt_web
​© Department Kunststofftechnik

    Dipl.-Ing. Dr.mont. Gerald Pilz

    gerald.pilz(at)unileoben.ac.at 
    +43 3842 402 - 2109
    Profil (Pure) | Profil (MUOnline)

    Research: Mechanical and thermo-mechanical characterization of high performance plastics 
     (technical thermoplastics and fiber reinforced plastics)

     © Department Kunststofftechnik

2025-06_SchrankTheresia_web
​© Department Kunststofftechnik

    Dipl.-Ing. Theresia Schrank

    theresia.schrank(at)unileoben.ac.at     
    +43 3842 402 - 2104
    Profil (Pure)

2022-08-02-Waly-Christoph
​© Department Kunststofftechnik

    Dipl.-Ing. Christoph Waly

    christoph.waly(at)unileoben.ac.at 
    +43 3842 402 - 2127
    Profil (Pure)

    Research: testing in the field of additive manufacturing, polymer mechanics and fracture mechanics,
     multi-layered systems

2024-07_Zach_web
​© Department Kunststofftechnik

    Dipl.-Ing. Daniel Zach

    daniel.zach@unileoben.ac.at 
    +43 3842 402 -
    Profil (Pure) | Profil (MUOnline)

    Research: tbd

 

Research Summaries

2024

CD-Lab Recyclates and the lifetime of polymer pipes
Florian Arbeiter

Reliable solutions for new generation household appliances
Gerald Pilz, Christoph Waly

Effect of weld lines on the cyclic service life of SFRTs 
Gerald Pinter

Hemp fibre-reinforced composites in building construction
Gerald Pilz, Ewald Fauster

Thermo-mechanical characterisation of Li-ion batteries
Matthias Pferschy

Long-term behaviour of short fibre reinforced polymers
Gerald Pinter

Transport of gaseous hydrogen in polyethylene pipes
Florian Arbeiter

Long-term performance of polypropylene pipe-grade materials
Carina Maurer, Florian Arbeiter

Lifetime tests of unpressurised pipes with recycled content
Daniel Zach, Florian Arbeiter

Ultralight ballistic protection modules from composites
Gerald Pilz

Service life after crack initiation in long fibre-reinforced polymers
Reza Afsharnia, Gerald Pinter

Characterising the in-situ effect on cross-ply laminates
Maria Gferrer 

Natural enemies: roughness and nanoindentation
Florian Arbeiter, Gernot Oresky

Nature-inspired concepts for property improvement
Christoph Waly, Florian Arbeiter

Elastomers: relationship between production & properties
Gerald Pinter

Mechanical metamaterials for structural applications
Gerald Pinter, Mathias Fleisch

Damage caused by fatigue in FRP laminates
Maria Gfrerrer

Delamination detection in composite materials
Maria Gfrerrer, Vasco D.C. Pires

Numerical simulation of buried non-pressure polymer pipes
Florian Arbeiter, Lukáš Trávníček