Safety & Suitability

The Safety & Suitability Technologies group (SST) is primarily concerned with the effects of vibration and shock on equipment in 'dynamic' and often harsh environments. With increasing reliance upon sophisticated systems and effective structures, the integration of equipment into real world environments is something that predictive modelling as yet, cannot achieve. Combining accumulated expertise with studies of loads and climatic environments SST help to ensure that the latest technological developments are translated into safe and reliable systems for the most demanding use.

From the design and manufacture of specialist instruments and the project management and conduct of data gathering trials through to the processing and assessment of data, SST undertake practical and analytical research studies and provide consulting advice to efficiently meet the various needs of clients. SST have over 35 years of experience working with UK MoD and have built up an impressive base of mainly defence related commercial customers. A secondary, but important additional business stream for SST is that of Aircraft Ground Operations, which include runway and helideck friction surveys and specialised testing such as aircraft water ingestion trials.

Evaluation of In Service Environments

SST undertakes trials and evaluation tasks towards supporting assessments of the safety and suitability for service of defence material, including munitions. Data gathering trials are carried out using state-of-the-art instrumentation, specially designed to withstand the harsh environments associated with deployment on fast jets, tracked vehicles, helicopters, etc.

·    Evaluation of In-Service Environments
·    Environmental Data Bank
·    Data Gathering Trials
·    Instrumentation Systems
·    Signal Processing

Friction Surveys

SST is the most experienced operator of friction survey trials in the United Kingdom, carrying out a key role for the safety of aircraft taking off and landing at many of the UK’s civilian and military airports. Similarly our work helps to make helicopter landings on oil platforms a much safer procedure.

Products from Wilcoxon Research

Complementary to our primary business stream, SST are UK representatives and resellers for Wilcoxon Research’s range of ruggedised transducers, cables and accessories. Renowned for many years as the industry leader for this kind of transducer, Wilcoxon offers the security of reliability and consequent long life, so important where plant shutdowns can be extremely costly.

Products from Spectral Dynamics

Complementary to our primary business stream, SST are UK representatives and resellers for Spectral Dynamic's range of advanced vibration and acoustic analysis systems together with the latest STAR 7 Modal Analysis software. Spectral Dynamics introduced the first commercial FFT analyzer in 1975 and Cranfield Aerospace are both users and suppliers in the UK.

Short Courses

Mechanical Environments of Defence Materiel
A three-day intensive course tailored to suit those concerned with monitoring aspects of vibration and shock within major trials programmes. The course is centred around DEF STAN 00-35 Parts 3 & 5, concerned with testing for the effects of induced mechanical environments.

Shock & Vibration Testing
A three-day intensive course for staff engaged in auditing or overseeing the work carried out by vibration and shock testing facilities. In addition to providing an understanding of vibration and shock testing, the course highlights pitfalls and errors that may occur in the testing process.

·    Mechanical Environments of Defence Materiel
·    Shock & Vibration Testing

Test Programme Management

We take full responsibility for the test programme from requirement definition and test procedures, coordination of resources through to final reporting and recommendations

Independent Technical Evaluation (ITE)

A key UK military document is JSP 553, Military Airworthiness Regulations, and describes the principles and policy agreed by the MOD Aviation and Regulation Safety Board (MARSB) for the regulation of the Airworthiness of UK Military Aircraft.

Within JSP 553 there is an important section relating to the Independent Assessment of the Safety Case, which in turn calls for two elements; one being for the appointment of an Independent Safety Auditor (ISA) and the other an Independent Technical Evaluation (ITE) of the Designers Safety Case and analyses of the data evidence supporting the safety case, which may include a qualitative assessment of aircraft handling.

Vibration Testing

Many defence standards and specifications for shock and vibration tests are derived from in-service measurements whether on land, sea or air. Cranfield’s SST group are the country’s leading experts in acquiring, analysing and assessing such data as well as making recommendations to the appropriate authorities. It is therefore appropriate that SST has a leading understanding of laboratory testing. The rigorous requirements for defence means that we are also able to undertake commercial testing.

·    Vibration Testing
·    Vibration Regulations
·    Modal Analysis

Water Ingestion Trials

All new passenger aircraft are required to demonstrate the ability to operate safely from flooded runways.  An area of runway specifically designed at Cranfield Aerospace has been constructed to enable water ingestion trials.

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