Methodology Investigation Exposure/Performance Tests of Selected Materiel Items.
Abstract
USATTC conducted a methodology investigation in the Canal Zone from July 1973 to April 1975 to study the relationships among performance of materiel, exposure, and materials deterioration. Representative items of Army materiel were selected, exposed in different modes in the humid tropics, and performance tested at regular intervals. Objectives were to learn how and when to measure performance, to relate the performance measures to materiel deterioration, and to learn how and when to apply nondestructive test (NDT) techniques. The pallet and tarpaulin-forest storage mode provided the most severe environment. Use of this storage mode in tropic surveillance tests will uncover materiel design weaknesses more rapidly than other common long-term storage modes. In general, exterior visible evidence of material degradation should not be used for item performance predictions. Test items exposed in the humid tropics should be performance tested and fully disassembled and examined to determine the full extent of tropic deterioration. Further studies are required to investigate techniques for quantifying the severity of microbial attack and distinguishing between destructive and nondestructive growth. Meaningful application of NDT techniques to test items during tropic surveillance testing requires further refinement. An investigation should be undertaken to examine state-of-the-art NDT techniques for application to tropic testing. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 1979
- Accession Number
- ADA074001
Entities
People
- George F. Downs
- Robert J. Gorak