Blast Testing and High Explosives Testing
With qualified explosives engineers, Spadeadam has the facilities and expertise to carry out trials involving the use of high explosives for a wide variety of purposes.
The site has a capability to carry out tests with a net explosive quantity (NEQ) of up to 400kg TNT equivalent.
Typical explosive tests include:
- Use of shaped charges to cut through steel (eg. to initiate catastrophic failures on pressurized pipes/vessels)
- Testing of blast resistant materials and compounds to contact charges or at set distances.
- Building components can be blast tested to a wide range of international standards including:
- ISO/DIS 16933
- ASTM F1642-04
- US General Services Administration (GSA) Standards
- CEN/EXR
- Development of techniques using novel materials, such as Lytag, combined with steel & concrete to absorb the blast and fragments from explosive devices
- Proof testing of Litterbins to standards approved by the Police Scientific Development Branch
- Novel explosive devices or techniques or applications
- Disposal of Explosive Wastes
- Sympathetic detonation trials
A complete service can be offered including all civil and mechanical works required to build or support structures under test. Instrumentation includes:
- Overpressure measurement in the free field using transducers
- Received loading using transducers mounted in structures
- Response of structures using strain gauges, displacement transducers or accelerometers
- High speed cine or video photography
Video clip of Range Test