Impact Drop Towers
The lab hosts two different drop towers, one bespoke and Instron 9450. Both utilise gravity to drop a mass from a height onto the specimen therefore generating impact loading conditions. Gravity is assisted by bungy cords in our bespoke tower and springs in the Instron tower in order to achieve the desired impact speeds. We have used these machines and a sister machine (Instron Dynatup 9250-HV) in the Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering to conduct dynamic characterisation of soft and skeletal tissue, shock absorbing materials, and shock absorbing structures
Technical Specifications
- Impact velocity: 0.77-24 m/s
- Drop height: 0.03-29.4 m
- Mass range: 2-70 kg
- Axial force: 0.45-222 kN
Controller and Software
The Instron 9450 is controlled by Bluehill® Impact, providing a set of pre-configured methods and testing scenarios.
Sensors
Optical
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Publications
Bonner TJ, Newell N, Karunaratne A, et al. Strain-rate sensitivity of the lateral collateral ligament of the knee. J Mech Behav Biomed Mater 2015;41:261–70. doi:10.1016/j.jmbbm.2014.07.004
Newell N, Carpanen D, Evans JH, et al. Mechanical Function of the Nucleus Pulposus of the Intervertebral Disc under High Rates of Loading. Spine (Phila Pa 1976) 2019;44:1035–41. doi:10.1097/BRS.0000000000003092
Newell N, Carpanen D, Grigoriadis G, et al. Material properties of human lumbar intervertebral discs across strain rates. Spine J 2019;19:2013–24. doi:10.1016/j.spinee.2019.07.012
Grigoriadis G, Newell N, Carpanen D, et al. Material properties of the heel fat pad across strain rates. J Mech Behav Biomed Mater 2017;65:398–407. doi:10.1016/j.jmbbm.2016.09.003
Newell N, Grigoriadis G, Christou A, et al. Material properties of bovine intervertebral discs across strain rates. J Mech Behav Biomed Mater 2016;65:824–30. doi:10.1016/j.jmbbm.2016.10.012
Carpanen D, Kedgley AE, Shah DS, et al. Injury risk of interphalangeal and metacarpophalangeal joints under impact loading. J Mech Behav Biomed Mater 2019;97:306–11. doi:10.1016/j.jmbbm.2019.05.037
Newell N, Masouros SD, Pullen AD, et al. The comparative behaviour of two combat boots under impact. Inj Prev 2012;18:109–12. doi:10.1136/ip.2010.031344