Program Overview

Program Overview

The Testing and Evaluation of Explosives course is a 5-day program designed to demonstrate how initiation of a reaction in a potentially detonable substance or composition can escalate to full detonation.

Course Structure

The course is delivered through lectures, case studies of explosive evaluation, and practical/demonstration on the range with a data acquisition workshop.

What You Will Learn

On successful completion of this course, you will be able to:

• Identify key contents of UK MoD standards and associated test documentation relevant to the approval of explosives, and articles containing explosives,
• Critique the main test methods to classify explosives performance (detonation velocity, pressure, critical diameter) and other properties of energetic materials,
• Critically review the importance, relevance and limitations of different instrumentation techniques, and their selection and applicability to experimental research and test data gathering,
• Interpret, draw and critically review conclusions from given experimental data.

Core Content

The course covers:

• Introduction to current safety testing regimes with examples of the required tests,
• Discussions on the complexity of legislation applied to the testing protocol within the UK,
• Practical demonstration of testing methods and analysis of the data obtained.

Upgrade to a Professional Qualification

When taken as a Short Course for Credit, 10 credit points can be put towards the Explosives Ordnance Engineering MSc.

Who Should Attend

Students must have successfully completed the Introduction to Explosives Engineering course or have relevant experience in order to take this as a Short Course for Credit. There are no prerequisites if taken as a Standalone Short Course.

Speakers

The course features speakers including:

• Dr Nathalie Mai
• Mr Chris Stennett
• MSIAC staff NATO unit responsible for providing advice on munitions safety and testing
• DOSG staff UK MoD regulation staff providing legislation and process for evaluation and testing of explosives

Concessions

A limited number of MOD spaces are available.

Location and Travel

The course is held at Cranfield Defence and Security (CDS), a Cranfield School based at the Ministry of Defence establishment on the Oxfordshire/Wiltshire borders.

Fees

The cost of the course is Ł2,250, with concessions available.