Bird Strike

TESTING SERVICES

Natural Impacts has over 20 years of experience in testing dynamic impacts. With over 3500 tests against windscreens, landing gear, engines, wings, tail-planes, re-fuelling probes, missiles, radomes, helicopter blades, propeller blades, antenna, etc.

These are all conducted under strict guidelines in accordance with JAR and FAR standards using our state of the art facilities at Cody Technology Park in Farnborough.

All tests are filmed using normal and high-speed cameras up to 20,000fps

Customers are provided with an extensive testing report including related technical data and video footage

Customised to your specific needs using either a 6″ (152mm) calibre by 18m long gas gun capable of launching birds up to 6lb to velocities of 450m/s or an 8″ (203mm) calibre by 18m long gun capable of launching birds up to 8lb to velocities of 250m/s.

The birds can be real or gelatine. We have an extensive range of moulds that can cover most of the standard weights and sizes and can produce moulds in-house if necessary.

HAIL STRIKE

We perform a range of hail test using specialised production methods to enable both crushed ice and water saturated cotton wool ice balls that fully comply with the FAR and JAR specifications. These can be manufactured in sizes including 10mm, 12mm, 1/2", 15mm, 3/4", 1", 35mm, 50mm, 2" and 100mm diameters. We launch these at up to 300m/s with an impact accuracy of +/-2mm.

If required the target can be encapsulated in a 1m cubed environment chamber with a temperature range of -60⁰C to +150⁰C at 85% humidity.

FOREIGN OBJECT DAMAGE

We have developed a range of techniques to accurately simulate all types of foreign object Damage (FOD) These include:

Uncontained engine rotor failure (UERF)
The launch of complete drones at aircraft impact speeds
Tyre debris using puck diameters of up to 8"
Ballast impact tests for train windscreens

BALLISTIC

Our high-pressure (345bar) 50mm calibre light gas gun can launch standard, non-standard and irregular shaped projectiles (bullets, nails, stones etc…) at over 1000m/s in any orientation with pin-point accuracy.

HYDRAULIC SHOCK TEST

Shock testing typically involves subjecting a test device to sudden and extreme amounts of acceleration or deceleration while instrumentation, such as strain gauges, load cells, motion sensors and more. The goal of the test is to measure the device’s response. Multi-channel, wide-band data acquisition systems produce documentation, wave shapes, and spectrum presentations using this sensor data. Our engineers then analyse the recorded response to determine performance.

TRAIN WINDSCREEN TEST

We have equipment is capable of launching a projectile at 500km/h, in accordance with EN 15152's impact test method. Calibration of the test equipment is conducted to find an equation relating air pressure and projectile velocity. Specimens having similar specifications with the front windscreens.

TYRE DEBRIS TEST

HIGH STRAIN RATE TESTING

The fully automated operation makes accurate high and low temperature tests possible. Specimen heat loss to the bars is minimised as the specimen is clamped and tested within just 0.1s.

We have a significant amount of experience from small aircraft to the Airbus A380. We will customise your projectile requirements as well as complete the design and build of compression frames to meet your impact material needs.