Experimental testing
In projects that include both analytical and experimental components, Protection Engineering Consultants often teams with government laboratories and private firms to conduct tests while providing guidance throughout the project.
As part of this collaborative process, we typically:
- Develop test plans, including instrumentation and video requirements
- Perform of pre-test modeling and analysis
- Design and acquire test specimens and supporting hardware
- Provide on-site oversight of testing
- Analyze test data and imagery
- Draw conclusions and write test report
Protection Engineering Consultants has access to a number of test sites, some with range limits over 20,000 lbs. of high explosives and 2,000-lb. fragmenting munitions.
Wall Breacher Concept Device and Flash X-ray of Laboratory Test
Ballistic Testing of Novel Cementitious Protective Panel
In previous employment, PEC engineers have developed and directed a number of vehicle crash test programs for evaluation of countermobility barriers for physical security and anti-terrorism applications. This work included development, design, fabrication, and testing of novel vehicle barrier systems.
Novel steel gate test — truck completely halted (photos from "Vehicle Impact Performance Evaluation Of Reduced-Debris, Countermobility Barriers, (Viper-CB), After Initiative Report”, USAF Force Protection BattleLab, Lackland AFB, Texas, May 2005)
Prediction and experimental evaluation of human injuries and fatalities is an important aspect of many PEC projects. PEC personnel have worked with a number of government and private organizations to quantify the likelihood and severity of casualties due to bombings, explosive weapon attack, and vehicle impact. These tests have incorporated Anthropomorphic Test Devices (ATDs or crash test dummies), instrumented cadavers, and human surrogates.
Instrumented cadaver and crash test dummy, for direct measurement of human injuries in a blast environment
(photo from BAIT/BASS/RODS presentation at 11th ISIEMS, May 2003, Mannheim, Germany)