Diagnostic techniques in deflagration and detonation studies

Advances in experimental, high-speed techniques can be used to explore the processes occurring within energetic materials. This review describes techniques used to study a wide range of processes: hot-spot formation, ignition thresholds, deflagration, sensitivity and finally the detonation process. As this is a wide field the focus will be on small-scale experiments and quantitative studies. It is important that such studies are linked to predictive models, which inform the experimental design process. The stimuli range includes, thermal ignition, drop-weight, Hopkinson Bar and Plate Impact studies. Studies made with inert simulants are also included as these are important in differentiating between reactive response and purely mechanical behaviour

Replicating landmine blast loading in cellular <i>in Vitro</i> models

Trauma arising from landmines and improvised explosive devices promotes heterotopic ossification, the formation of extra-skeletal bone in non-osseous tissue. To date, experimental platforms that can replicate the loading parameter space relevant to improvised explosive device and landmine blast wave exposure have not been available to study the effects of such non-physiological mechanical loading on cells. Here, we present the design and calibration of three distinct in vitro experimental loading platforms that allow us to replicate the spectrum of loading conditions recorded in near-field blast wave exposure. We subjected cells in suspension or in a three-dimensional hydrogel to strain rates up to 6000 s-1and pressure levels up to 45 MPa. Our results highlight that cellular activation is regulated in a non-linear fashion - not by a single mechanical parameter, it is the combined action of the applied mechanical pressure, rate of loading and loading impulse, along with the extracellular environment used to convey the pressure waves. Finally, our research indicates that PO MSCs are finely tuned to respond to mechanical stimuli that fall within defined ranges of loading

Comparative quasi-static mechanical characterization of fresh and stored porcine trachea specimens

Abstract: Tissues of the upper airways of critically ill patients are particularly vulnerable to mechanical damage associated with the use of ventilators. Ventilation is known to disrupt the structural integrity of respiratory tissues and their function. This damage contributes to the vulnerability of these tissues to infection. We are currently developing tissue models of damage and infection to the upper airways. As part of our studies, we have compared how tissue storage conditions affect mechanical properties of excised respiratory tissues using a quasi-static platform. Data presented here show considerable differences in mechanical responses of stored specimens compared to freshly excised specimens. These data indicate that implementation of storage and maintenance procedures that minimize rapid degradation of tissue structure are essential for retaining the material properties in our tissue trauma models

The stress and ballistic properties of granular materials

Granular materials are widespread in nature and in manufacturing. Their particulate nature gives a compressive strength of a similar order of magnitude as many continuous solids, a vanishingly small tensile strength and variable shear strength, highly dependent on the loading conditions. Previous studies have shown the effect of composition, morphology and particle size, however, compared to metals and polymers, granular materials are not so well understood. This paper will present some recent results for granular materials, placing these within the wider context. Two areas will be dealt with (i) the effect of the skeletal strength of the material and (ii) the displacements associated with ballistic impact. One clear observation is the similarity of behavior of quartz-sands in compression across a range of particle size. However, the precise pathway of compression is strongly dependent on the initial conditions e.g. density and connectivity within the granular bed, as emphasized by some data for quasi-static compression of sand. To fully embrace the range of behaviours seen requires the development of a suitable parameter to describe the material, the paper concludes with a discussion of one of those approaches

The stress and ballistic properties of granular materials

Granular materials are widespread in nature and in manufacturing. Their particulate nature gives a compressive strength of a similar order of magnitude as many continuous solids, a vanishingly small tensile strength and variable shear strength, highly dependent on the loading conditions. Previous studies have shown the effect of composition, morphology and particle size, however, compared to metals and polymers, granular materials are not so well understood. This paper will present some recent results for granular materials, placing these within the wider context. Two areas will be dealt with (i) the effect of the skeletal strength of the material and (ii) the displacements associated with ballistic impact. One clear observation is the similarity of behavior of quartz-sands in compression across a range of particle size. However, the precise pathway of compression is strongly dependent on the initial conditions e.g. density and connectivity within the granular bed, as emphasized by some data for quasi-static compression of sand. To fully embrace the range of behaviours seen requires the development of a suitable parameter to describe the material, the paper concludes with a discussion of one of those approaches

The stress and ballistic properties of granular materials

Granular materials are widespread in nature and in manufacturing. Their particulate nature gives a compressive strength of a similar order of magnitude as many continuous solids, a vanishingly small tensile strength and variable shear strength, highly dependent on the loading conditions. Previous studies have shown the effect of composition, morphology and particle size, however, compared to metals and polymers, granular materials are not so well understood. This paper will present some recent results for granular materials, placing these within the wider context. Two areas will be dealt with (i) the effect of the skeletal strength of the material and (ii) the displacements associated with ballistic impact. One clear observation is the similarity of behavior of quartz-sands in compression across a range of particle size. However, the precise pathway of compression is strongly dependent on the initial conditions e.g. density and connectivity within the granular bed, as emphasized by some data for quasi-static compression of sand. To fully embrace the range of behaviours seen requires the development of a suitable parameter to describe the material, the paper concludes with a discussion of one of those approaches