11 Jul 2008
Nuclear Research Institution takes delivery of Imatek IM10 Impact Tester
The Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) in Trombay on the outskirts of Mumbai, India is one of the worlds leading and most prestigious nuclear research institutions. At BARC high quality research and development takes place in the areas of nuclear reactor design, fuel fabrication, the chemical processing of spent fuels, the safe disposal of nuclear waste and the development of radioisotope application techniques in medicine, agriculture and industry. BARC was named after the visionary Dr Homi Jehangir Bhabha who conceptualised the Indian Nuclear Programme and initiated nuclear science research in India in 1944.
BARC have recently taken delivery of an Imatek IM10-30 high velocity multi-purpose Impact Tester. The machine has a 3 metre gravitational drop which is complimented by a high velocity system allowing velocities of up to 25 metres/second to be achieved.
The IM10 system is playing a key role in the testing of metallic materials for the research and development of BARC’s nuclear refuelling programme. This includes high rate testing of tensile specimens and stress flow characterisation at strain rates of up to 1500S-1 and standard quality tests such as Charpy v-notch to ASTM E23.
The Imatek IM10 range of highly versatile drop weight impact testers enable a wide range of tests on materials, specimens and end products of various geometry. The range accommodates impact energies of up to 3000J and speeds of up to 25m/s.
The IM10 offers laboratory grade instrumentation with very rigid construction for the highest accuracy test results. Multiple redundant systems ensure very high levels of operator safety and full compliance with EEC safety directives. A range of options are available including high speed, fully integrated video providing visualisation of specimen failure.