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Systems Engineering

Engineering Science AWE

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The Engineering Science team at AWE provides support to our Environmental Testing and Neutron Irradiation Services capability.

The team is divided into several areas of expertise, as detailed below.

Environmental Testing 
AWE operates an extensive range of environmental test facilities, with the capability to handle assemblies containing inert, explosive, toxic and radioactive materials. These assemblies can be subjected to a wide range of environments, including: 

  • Vibration 
  • Shock 
  • Acceleration 
  • Climatics
The extensive test facilities are coupled with data acquisition, instrumentation, calibration and modal testing capabilities. They are staffed by an experienced team of engineers and scientists who work to the stringent standards required by the nuclear industry, enabling AWE to offer an unmatched service in the design and qualification market. 

Some of the company's capabilities in the field include: 

  • Modal Analysis - comprehensive multi-input testing capability. 
  • Vibration - 200N to 245kN thrust electromechanical shakers. 
  • Shock - consistent high level shock pulses achieved, with SRS testing, free fall and vacuum guns. 
  • Acceleration - 4m radius centrifuge, up to 270gn acceleration. 
  • Climatics - temperature/humidity/altitude chambers and thermal conditioning. 
  • Instrumentation - Highly experienced team of instrumentation engineers. 
  • Calibration – in-house calibration of all transducers traceable to national standards. 
  • Recording & Analysis - digital recording, 32 channel 150ksample/sec acquisition system.

These areas are expanded upon below...

Modal Testing
AWE operates a comprehensive Modal Testing facility, offering multi-input random, sine and impact tests for studying structural dynamic characteristics. This information is used for the correlation and validation of Finite Element models as well as assessing the best methods for rig and fixture design for environmental level testing.  AWE keeps up to date with the latest innovative techniques in this field.

Vibration
Electromechanical shakers ranging from machines with a thrust of 200N for the testing of small components up to a 245kN thrust machine for explosives testing. Frequency range: 5 - 2000Hz; some facilities are able to operate up to 3000Hz. Random, random on random, and sinusoidal vibration testing using the latest computer control and monitoring systems.

Shock
A range of capabilities from a 1.3m free fall drop test machine, to a 500mm diameter vacuum gun machine capable of velocities up to 50 m / s. Classic shock shapes: half-sine, final peak sawtooth and trapezoidal with acceleration levels up to 25,000 gn. Shock Response Spectra synthesis, combining the latest computer software with a range of electromechanical shakers for repetitive low energy shocks.

Acceleration
A 4m centrifuge facility, capable of subjecting loads 1130kg max, up to 250 revs/min, 270 gn acceleration.
20 variations of acceleration selected by programmable software on a small centrifuge facility. 

Climatics
  - Temperature and humidity / altitude chamber.
  - Pressure chambers (air and water).
  - Thermal and vibration capability over the range +100C to -50C.
  - Kinetic heat environments can be reproduced using radiant heaters, generating surface temperatures of up to 200C.

Instrumentation and Calibration
  - Comprehensive range of instrumentation, supported by an experienced team of skilled engineers.
  - Calibration of vibration and shock accelerometers, humidity and temperature sensors and dynamic force transducers, traceable back to national standards.

Recording and Analysis
The facilities operate a powerful multi-user data acquisition and real-time analyser system using the latest computer technology.

Explosives Testing
Purpose built facilities for testing explosives up, including mixed toxic materials.
The environmental test laboratories have the latest facilities, manned by highly skilled personnel with wide ranging experience. AWE has ISO9001:2000 Quality Assurance registration and can offer highly secure, safe test facilities as required by the customer.

Finite Element Analysis
For more than 25 years Design Services Division at AWE has had experience of underwriting designs by using engineering analysis techniques. This has focused particularly on combinations of designs and environments, which cannot be tested as prototypes. Services available cover engineering analysis using Structural, Dynamic Thermal and Aerothermal methods.
Particular experience has been established in non-linear dynamic structural analysis using finite element methods and in the field of aerothermal response of re-entry vehicles. 

As part of AWE's total project capability, an integrated design, analysis and testing capability is available.

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