Research and development for industry: Advanced ... - CSIR

SPECIALISED TECHNICAL SERVICES AND SUPPORT TO INDUSTRY| 74 |The composite material usedfor the Meerkat precursorof the Square KilometreArray radio telescope (artistimpression top) undergoingtensile testing at the CSIR.From tensiletests to fracturemechanics:Mechanical testinglaboratory leadsthe wayThe CSIR’s mechanicaltesting laboratory is a uniqueSouth African facility. Notonly can this facility provideindustry and researcherswith both static and dynamicmechanical testing, but it isindependent and conforms tointernational standards.Before a new product canbe manufactured it is essentialto know the properties of thematerials to be used. This includesboth physical and mechanicalproperties.“The CSIR’s mechanical testinglaboratory was established toprovide support to researchers inthe evaluation of materials,” saysDr Sagren Govender, researchgroup leader of the advancedcasting technologies group at theCSIR. “While this is still the case,we have also opened our facilitiesto industry and have donesome interesting work for manyindustrial partners over the years.”The laboratory is a nationalfacility that has a number ofmechanical tests for metalsaccredited to the ISO/IEC17025:2005 quality managementstandard used for test procedures,such as high-temperature androom-temperature tensile tests,Chris McDuling, technical manager at the CSIR mechanical testing laboratory duringthe testing of an aerospace componenthigh-cycle fatigue testing and straincontrolled,low-cycle fatigue testing.It is also accredited according tothe PRO 0430 aerospace standard.All other tests are performed incompliance with the ISO 9001 qualitymanagement system.“All of these accreditations playeda role in the laboratory being anapproved facility to Airbus, GeneralElectric and Safran. In order toensure the highest standards areachieved, the laboratory takes part inan international proficiency testingprogramme administrated by EXOVAin France,” explains Chris McDuling,technical manager of the CSIRmechanical testing laboratory.The CSIR mechanical testinglaboratory did tests to qualifythe materials used for thedishes of the South AfricanMeerKAT precursor of the SquareKilometre Array radio telescope.Over a number of years, the range oftest equipment has been expandedconsiderably and procedures fortesting composite materials have beendeveloped. An example of recent workin this area is tests done to qualify thematerials used for the dishes of theSouth African MeerKAT precursor forthe Square Kilometre Array (SKA) radiotelescope.South Africa’s bid to host the SKAtelescope includes a locally developedtechnology with which to manufacturethe antennae reflectors on the dishes.The CSIR’s mechanical testing laboratorywas tasked to determine whether thematerials to be used would last theexpected 20 years. Since a newmanufacturing process was used forthe dishes, new test methods had to bedeveloped for the material qualificationprocess for the SKA.Says McDuling: “Industry benefits fromthis mechanical testing facility by meansof static strength and fatigue testingfor the aerospace, power generation,engineering and civil industries.Mechanical properties of turbine bladematerials for the aerospace industryand power plants can be determinedat this facility. We have also developedadvanced testing techniques for highcyclefatigue testing of reinforcing steelfor the construction industry.”In addition, biomedical implantdevices are also tested at the facilityin accordance with ASTM standards.A number of the devices testedat the facility received approvalfrom the American Food and DrugAdministration, which testifies to thelaboratory’s quality standards.Some of the laboratory’s current clientsinclude Eskom, Sasol, Scaw, EliteSurgical and MegChem.– Petro LowiesEnquiries:Chris McDulingcmcdul@csir.co.zaDr Sagren Govendersgovender@csir.co.zaShear testing of material for South Africa’sSKA project (material qualification tests)Fatigue testing of a titanium vertebraeplate used for biomedial implantsMECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF MATERIALSFor structural components, mechanical properties arevitally important, especially for components where safetyis critical. Mechanical properties give an indication of howmaterials perform when subjected to stress and strain andare a function of the materials used and the manufacturingtechniques employed to produce a product or component.High-temperature tensile testing of turbine-blade material| 75 |