Non-Destructive Evaluation of Munitions CDE themed call

Nov 2012 - science.mod.uk

08/01/2013 - Harwell Oxford

Centre for Defence Enterprise themed call under the Weapons Domain on the 'Non-Destructive Evaluation of Munitions'.

• Call launches 8 January 2013 at Harwell Oxford (pm)
• Call closes 19 February 2013 at 1700 hrs. 

The Centre for Defence Enterprise (CDE) proves the value of novel, high-risk, high-potential-benefit research sourced from the broadest possible range of science and technology providers, including academia and small companies, to enable development of cost-effective capability advantage for UK Armed Forces and national security.

The Weapons Domain in the Defence Science and Technology Programme Office is responsible for planning and delivery of research and technology to support the future UK weapons needs. The Domain achieves this primarily through placing research with industry and academia. Key goals include the fast and effective delivery of technical capability to the front line and encouraging innovation to exploit emerging and potentially disruptive technologies. This CDE themed call is looking for innovative research proposals in any area of weapons systems that help to reduce cost, weight and volume and to increase life, performance and modularity; however this call focuses on the following specific area:

Non-Destructive Evaluation (NDE) of Munitions

NDE is used to determine the chemical and physical state of an energetic formulation(s) (explosive, propellant or pyrotechnic) within munitions. NDE is used by manufacturers to develop processes and verify the quality of their products, and by MOD to assess to determine the remaining safe life of munitions’ in-service use. However, the techniques currently available are limited in applicability and resolution. Many physical and chemical properties of interest can only be measured by destructive testing, or are inferred from initial development testing and the munitions’ service history. These properties include stress, strain, temperature, modulus, porosity, bond strength, hardness, chemical stabiliser content, degree of decomposition, polymer chain length, and degree of polymer cross linking.
Therefore, proof-of-concept research proposals are sought in this CDE themed call for novel techniques to determine properties such as, strain, stress, density, porosity, etc. throughout the energetic formulation(s) as well as evidence of cracking and wall separation without the need to destroy the munition. The energetic formulation may be housed in munitions with metal or composite cases from 1mm to 10mm. 

A call document and presentations from the launch event will be provided on this webpage after the launch event.

This call will launch on Tuesday 8 January 2013 at an event at Harwell Oxford. The event is expected to run in the afternoon from approximately 1300-1600 but details are still to be confirmed. The launch event will consist of presentations and networking opportunities.

The call will close on 19 February 2013 at 1700 hrs.

All proposals must be submitted via the CDE Portal.

Register for the launch event below.

Non-Destructive Evaluation of Munitions - Call flyer

Register