Instron makes enough impact machines that go bang not to be blown away by any old catapult, spud gun or ‘accelerator’. But there are some truly awe-inspiring projects out there that occasionally catches my interest, and I’d just like to show you a choice selection.
First off, VERA (Variable Energy Research Accelerator) is an advanced 'spud gun' that can deliver energies of up to 2.25 megajoules. That’s enough energy to fire a fully laden London bus over a five storey building! VERA functions using a combination of compressed air and combustion, which it contains using enormous tanks.
Moving on, the Shock Compression Lab at Harvard University simulates impacts between celestial bodies. That’s right, they’re mocking up collisions between planets, moons and other space debris. The gas gun fires projectiles at 6000 miles per hour, and the resultant shock waves are studied in order to better understand cosmic scale collisions and their after-effects.
Moving onto our final offering for today, Punkin Chunkin is an annual effort for technically minded types to outdo one another – in the field of Pumpkin throwing! Machines are pitted against each-other by enthusiasts from all over the world and come in a number of varieties – a quick Google image search will give you a rough idea of the wealth of designs that come through. The competition is well into its 26th year, and in that time the 'Chunkin' machines have grown increasingly capable – the record has steadily risen from a meagre 126 feet to over 4,400 feet in recent years!
Our range of impact testing operates in a much more controlled manner, and can be used to analyse the process of impact and failure using strain gauges and high-speed data acquisition systems. Models are available for Quality Control and Research purposes and range all the way up to 1800 Joules. Check out more information on our drop towers our pendulums. Before embarking on an impact project, please make sure that proper safety precautions are in place.
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