Experimental Facility for Testing Aircraft Materials for Strength Launched at SKIF Synchrotron Site

The "Fast-Flowing Processes" station in Koltsovo is many times more powerful than foreign counterparts

The "Fast-Flowing Processes" experimental station with a 5 cubic meter explosion chamber has been put into operation at the SKIF synchrotron site in the science city of Koltsovo. The facility will allow studying the behavior of materials under extreme loads, which is critical for the aviation industry.

SKIF synchrotron
SKIF synchrotron

The chamber is designed to detonate charges with a capacity of up to 2.5 kg in TNT equivalent. During the first tests, its stability and safety were confirmed. For comparison: similar installations at the Novosibirsk Institute of Nuclear Physics and the American Los Alamos Laboratory operate with a capacity of no more than 200 g and 20 g, respectively.

The main focus is on modeling extreme conditions faced by materials in aviation. For example, testing turbine blades when foreign objects hit them or analyzing the stability of structures to shock loads. Additionally, the station will study the properties of explosives and develop new composite materials.

The station will become part of the SKIF Shared Use Center — a 4+ generation synchrotron with an energy of 3 GeV. By the end of 2025, it is planned to launch the first six research lines, and the entire complex will include 30 stations. The project cost has increased from 37.1 to 50 billion rubles due to the expansion of technical capabilities.

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