Mr Chris Stennett
Senior Research Officer
Location: Shrivenham campus
E: c.stennett@cranfield.ac.uk
T: +44 (0)1793 784154
Department of Engineering and Applied Science
Current activities
Currently working with the Dynamic Response Group supporting developing novel techniques to explore shock physics. Plate impact experiments on inert and energetic materials using embedded stress gauges, VISAR, electromagnetic velocity gauges, flash X-ray.Assessment and characterisation of improvised explosive compositions currently of interest to the security community.
Technical lead for the Shrivenham Test House, implementing:
EMTAP small-scale powder tests for explosives safety, and for qualification of new explosive compositions.
Charge-scale testing of energetic materials including copper cylinder expansion tests (to determine JWL equation of state parameters), EMTAP tube testing (to determine explosiveness of energetic materials), wedge test, detonation performance evaluation (critical diameter, detonation velocity and detonation pressure)
EMTAP Test 40 proof machining of explosives.
The development of a precision explosives machining facility to plate impact targets.
One-dimensional time to explosion (ODTX) testing of energetic materials, to determine decomposition kinetics for multi-step decomposition models.
Academic expert sitting on DOSG Insensitive Munitions Assessment Panel (IMAP)
Clients
UK MoD. Defence Ordnance Safety Group, AWE. Airbus, Qinetiq, BAE (Land Systems), CPNI. EPSRCBackground
University of Sussex, 1987 to 1990, BEng 2(i) Hons Computer Systems Engineering.RARDE/DRA/DERA/Qinetiq Fort Halstead, 1991 to 2004:
Development and implementation of software for scientific visualisation in the fields of computational chemistry, molecular dynamics, 2D and 3D hydrocodes. Software engineering in C, FORTRAN for compute-intensive tasks on workstations and multiprocessor mainframes.
Development and implementation of material sub-models in hydrocodes, to model ignition and the growth of reaction in energetic materials.
Thermal modelling of time to explosion in energetic materials.
The experimental study of ignition and growth mechanisms in energetic materials by instrumented cook-off testing and by projectile and plate impact.
Fast event capture using digital oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, high-speed digital and film cameras, ultra high-speed digital and rotating mirror framing and streak cameras.
Certified firing officer for Fort Halstead firing facilities.
Project management of large-scale explosive trials.
Selected publications
Hazell, P.J., Stennett, C., Cooper, G.A., “The Shock and Release Behaviour of an Aerospace-Grade Aromatic Amine Epoxy Resin”, Journal of Polymer Composites, In PrintCook, M.D., Haskins, P.J., Stennett, C., Briggs, R.I., “The Role of Binders in Controlling the Explosiveness of HMX/HTPB Compositions”, 14th APS Topical Conference on Shock Compression of Condensed Matter, 2005
Stennett, C., Cook, M.D., Briggs, R.I., Haskins, P.J., Fellows, J., “Direct Observation of Cook-off Events using a novel Glass-Windowed Vehicle and Pipe Bombs”, 12th International Detonation Symposium, San Diego, CA, 2002
Cook, M.D., Haskins, P.J., Stennett, C., Wood, A.D., “Cumulative Damage Hotspot Model for use with Arrhenius-Based Ignition and Growth Model”, 12th International Detonation Symposium, San Diego, CA, 2002
Cook, M.D., Haskins, P.J., Briggs, R.I., Stennett, C., Fellows, J., Cheese, P.J., “Fragment Impact Characteristation of Melt-case and PBX Explosives”, APS Topical Conference on Shock Compression of Condensed Matter, Atlanta, GA, 2001
Cook, M.D., Briggs, R.I., Haskins, P.J.,, Stennett, C., “High-speed Observations of Fragment Impact Initiation of Nitromethane Charges”, APS Topical Conference on Shock Compression of Condensed Matter, Snowbird, UT, 1999
Cook, M.D., Haskins, P.J., Stennett, C., “Development and Implementation of an Ignition and Growth Model for Homogeneous and Heterogeneous Explosives”, 11th International Detonation Symposium, Snowmass, CO, 1998
