L-260 Defects: Causes, Classification & Criticality Virtual Plenary Sessions 9th – 11th March 2021 Program & List of Abstracts

March 2021

Defects in energetic materials or in other materials used in munitions systems are often a cause for concern. This includes voids, cracks, and foreign materials, as well as chemical, physical and / or mechanical properties that are outside design tolerance specifications. Defects in energetic materials are common and can have a significant impact on the safety and reliability of the munition, yet guidance and understanding on how to assess and sentence defects is often limited.

The MSIAC Workshop “Defects: Causes, Classification & Criticality” intends to bring together stakeholders from across the munition safety community to develop a methodology by which the problem of defects can be approached. This will include the way in which we draw upon various sources of information to inform decisions with respect to the criticality of defects and the sentencing of munitions. The workshop will seek to achieve the following goals:

Develop an understanding of the causes of defects with respect to different munition systems and designs, energetic materials, service environments and manufacturing processes, and attempt to predict their occurrence.
Develop an understanding of the detection methods for defects, including discussion of emerging technology.
Understand the effects of defects, including how they change the properties of energetic materials and ultimately safety, reliability and performance.
Discuss acceptance criteria based on the point at which defects impact safety, reliability and performance.