Grant: Research Tools and Instruments - Category 1 (<$150,000)

A high-speed impact laboratory has been established at the University of New Brunswick. The new facility, opened in 2010, enables the launching of projectiles at various targets under controlled conditions. This enables us to simulate high-speed impact effects in natural and synthetic materials. The creation of high-speed collision conditions allows my research team to investigate shock wave - planetary materials interactions, as well as conceive, design and test new ways to better protect people and infrastructure from impact damage. The laboratory comprises: (1) a subsonic (<250 m/s) launcher to re-create aircraft birdstrike and lower speed natural impacts; (2) a supersonic (>250 m/s) single-stage light-gas gun to simulate low-speed asteroid and aerospace debris impacts, and (3) a hypersonic (>1.75 to 8 km/s) two-stage light-gas gun to re-create meteorite-planet collisions and micrometeoroid and orbital debris hits that can affect space infrastructure. A fourth, electromagnetic launcher, to attain velocities >8 km/s, will be acquired in 2011. All these launchers require the high-precision machining of projectiles, and the sleeves that they travel along the barrels in, referred to as sabots. We have discovered that failure to achieve precision machining of these components results in launch tube damage and an inability to reproduce experimental conditions. To this end, a computer numerical controlled (CNC) vertical milling machine is sought. An Operations Technician will machine the components, as well as provide training to students who need to conceive, design and build their own projectiles and sabots. The impact facility has been funded by industry and federal and provincial bodies only for the acquisition of the launch technologies, the salaries of staff and building rent. The funding does not permit purchase of the requested CNC vertical mill. However, it has become clear that we need an in-house capability to experiment with projectile and sabot design, and that outsourcing this work is both too costly and too time-consuming to facilitate effective research and development. Having our own mill will also allow graduate students and other HQP to receive training in high-precision machining operations.