Component & Materials Testing
Understanding how components and materials respond under increased gravitational stress
Broadbent centrifuge systems provide a controlled environment for component and materials testing under sustained elevated gravitational loading. This is particularly valuable where the behaviour of a component, material or complete assembly is influenced by its own mass and where stresses develop throughout the test article rather than solely at defined loading points.
The capability can support both conventional engineering components and advanced or novel materials, including additive-manufactured and 3D-printed components, where understanding the response of the complete geometry and its internal stress distribution may form an important part of qualification or research.
Broadbent also operates in-house test laboratory facilities, allowing component and materials testing to be undertaken on behalf of customers without the requirement to establish their own centrifuge test capability.
Integrated Mechanical & Electrical Assemblies
Evaluate complete mechanical, electrical and electro-mechanical systems under sustained acceleration, allowing individual components, connections and supporting structures to respond together.
Advanced Manufacturing
Support the research and qualification of 3D-printed and additive-manufactured components, complex geometries and advanced materials under controlled elevated-gravity conditions.
Global Stress Behaviour
Centrifugal acceleration increases the apparent self-weight of the complete test article, creating mass-proportional inertial loading throughout the component or assembly rather than applying load through a single contact point.
Data-Rich Testing
Experiments can incorporate measurement of strain, acceleration, force, displacement, pressure and temperature, together with video and other application-specific instrumentation.
Hypergravity Materials & Phase Evolution
Our centrifuge platforms can also support research into the effects of hypergravity on materials and phase evolution, including porous materials, gels and multiphase systems where acceleration, shear, surface tension and mass transport influence behaviour.
Testing built around your requirement
From an individual material specimen to an integrated assembly, Broadbent can support the development of the test fixture, acceleration profile, instrumentation and data-acquisition system required for each programme.