Surveillance and Proof

1. Surveillance and Proof

2. Definitions • Service Life: The overall life span • Storage Life: The life in specified storage conditions (part of service life) • Stability: Properties affecting safety • Surveillance: Systematic method of evaluating properties and performance • Proof: A type of surveillance, specifically functional testing or live firing

3. Purpose • Only way to establish safety and stability • Allows assessment of the ammunition • Safety • Reliability • Operational effectiveness • May permit extensions to the shelf life

4. Purpose • Safety and stability in storage • Safety, reliability and performance during use • Monitor environmental conditions • Detect failure modes before the user is affected • Predictions to support procurement plan • Extend the in-service life in an informed way

5. Aging and Degradation of Ammunition Physical Chemical

6. Physical • Examples: • Energetic materials: • De-bonding between explosive and inert surfaces • Stabiliser depletion within the energetic material • Electronics: • Component ageing • Component shock damage • Structure: • O-ring failure • Mechanical damage (impact, corrosion)

7. Chemical • Factors: • High temperatures • Large variations in temperature • Low temperatures • High or low humidity • Vibration • Shock • Pressure

8. Vibration

9. Baseline Data • A baseline (or benchmark): • Manufacturer’s test results and proof results • Explosive safety assessment data • Accelerated aging tests • Component fatigue tests • Measurement against known norms • Test results from other nations • Explosive Hazard Data Sheets • Compatibility data

10. Climatic Impact on the Degradation of Explosives

11. Climatic Impact on the Degradation of Propellants

12. In Service Proof • Examples: • Guns: Tests on muzzle velocity, range, accuracy • Grenades: Tests on delay time • Pyrotechnics: Tests on burning time

13. In Service Proof • Illustrative Example: Hand Grenade Proof Tests

14. Chemical Stability of Explosives Good performance at proof ≠ chemical stability Chemical stability needs to be monitored as well Proof and surveillance are both required

15. Chemical Stability of Propellants • Accelerated aging: • Physical tests • eg Abel Heat Test, Methyl Violet, NATO 65.5ºC • Chemical Tests • Eg High Performance Liquid Chromatography, In the final stages of decomposition, some propellants can give off BROWN FUMES of nitrogen dioxide. This is an EXTREME situation and indicates that auto-ignition is imminent and that a FIRE COULD OCCUR AT ANY TIME.

16. In Service Stability Surveillance Systems • System components: • An effective ammunition management plan • Trained and experienced technical staff • A capable explosives laboratory • Effective sampling mechanisms • An efficient ammunition accounting system • National Authority responsibility, planning and direction

17. In Service Stability Surveillance Systems Known details: Selection for testing: • Age • Harsh climate condition • Length of time stored out of depots • Unusual performance • Transported lots • Existing test results Unknown details: Selection for testing: • High temperature • Age • Unknown origin • Unknown composition • Suspect deterioration • Unusual characteristics

18. In Service Stability Surveillance Systems • Date of manufacture • Batch or lot number • Nomenclature (technical name) • Form in which the explosive is held • Quantity held • Due date of next stability test • Type of stability test required • The current storage location of the explosive

19. In Service Stability Surveillance Systems • Example stability test schedule

20. Surveillance of Nitrate Esters

21. Questions