Fast fracture test

Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology

ISSN: 0002-2667

Article publication date: 25 January 2008

78

Citation

(2008), "Fast fracture test", Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology, Vol. 80 No. 1. https://doi.org/10.1108/aeat.2008.12780aab.014

Publisher

:

Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2008, Emerald Group Publishing Limited


Fast fracture test

Fast fracture test

Last year, NEC Aerospace successfully completed a three-day controlled exercise, the first of its kind in Canada, this involved the deliberate “demolition” of a decommissioned, pressurized Boeing 727. The blast, which was achieved by detonating a bomb hidden in a laptop computer concealed in the aircraft's luggage-filled cargo bay, generated unique post-blast fractured aircraft structures that will help researchers learn more about fractures caused by explosions, knowledge that could help in future accident investigations.

The fast fracture test also simulated a high-risk security environment to test the expertise and capabilities of participating first-response groups, including the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Canada's Department of National Defence and the Ottawa Police Service, as well as the Ottawa Airport Fire Department and Ottawa Fire Services, which carried out a full response operation to extinguish the subsequent fire. It furthermore provided an opportunity for eight Canadian companies specializing in security technologies to demonstrate their latest security technologies and explore how their products could be integrated to further reduce the chance of an emergency situation and to arm responders with effective tools.

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