Military and Defence

Equipment that is destined for use by the Armed Forces, for security purposes and in military applications can expect to encounter some of the harshest environments that materiel will ever be subjected to. Regular rough handling, extreme environmental conditions and extended periods of use will take their toll on equipment, much of which may be critical for survival or safety. Thorough testing can help to ensure that your equipment continues to function, no matter what the world throws at it. Secure peace of mind by putting your equipment through its paces before it has ever been deployed. MIL-STD and DEF-STAN testing will ensure your equipment is robust enough to be counted on when it matters most.

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Vibration results in dynamic deflections of and within materiel. These dynamic deflections and associated velocities and accelerations may cause or contribute to structural fatigue and mechanical wear of structures, assemblies, and parts. In addition, dynamic deflections may result in impacting of elements and/or disruption of function. Some typical symptoms of vibration-induced problems follow. This list is not intended to be all-inclusive:

Chafed wiring.
Loose fasteners/components.
Intermittent electrical contacts.
Electrical shorts.
Deformed seals.
Failed components.
Optical or mechanical misalignment.
Cracked and/or broken structures.
Migration of particles and failed components.
Particles and failed components lodged in circuitry or mechanisms.
Excessive electrical noise.
Fretting corrosion in bearings.

Climatic testing is to validate material safety, integrity, and performance during various stages of a products life. Commonly encountered issues include:

Parts bind from differential expansion of dissimilar materials
Lubricants become less viscous; joints lose lubrication by outward flow of lubricants
Materials change in dimension, either totally or selectively
Packing, gaskets, seals, bearings and shafts become distorted, bind and fail causing mechanical or integrity failures
Gaskets display permanent set
Closure and sealing strips deteriorate
Fixed-resistance resistors change in values
Electronic circuit stability varies with differences in temperature gradients and differential expansion of dissimilar materials
Transformers and electromechanical components overheat
Operating/release margins of relays and magnetic or thermally activated devices alter
Shortened operating lifetime
Solid pellets or grains separate
High pressures created within sealed cases (projectiles, bombs, etc.)
Accelerated burning of explosives or propellants
Expansion of cast explosives within their cases
Explosives melt and exude
Discoloration, cracking, or crazing of organic materials
Out-gassing of composite materials or coatings (i.e. VOCs, CO and Phthalates)
Failure of adhesives