Proving the value of structural integrity testing: a static test on a forged titanium tank
As part of our expanding Aerospace portfolio, we recently carried out strain gauge instrumentation of a forged titanium satellite fuel tank in preparation for a static test.
Sensor Solutions recorded the installed instrumentation on the tank as it was taken to catastrophic failure by applied internal pressure.
As with most satellite components, this tank is mission critical, it must not fail. It passed the test with flying colours, exceeding the already generous safety margins by a factor of 2.
Load Cells
The strain gauges recorded an incredible 22,000 micro strain before failing and the internal pressure recorded reaching double the expected value.
This work proved that these integrity testing services are invaluable where an enormously expensive project is dependent on the continuous reliable operation of a few vital components.