DSDS 21

Permanent URI for this collection

https://dspace.lib.cranfield.ac.uk/handle/1826/21075

This collection showcases outputs from the seventh Defence and Security Doctoral Symposium, hosted at the Defence Academy of the United Kingdom, Shrivenham by Cranfield University in association with AWE.

It is the only UK conference to provide research students and early career researchers in defence and security with an opportunity to present their work to a sector-wide audience. Covering both technology and social sciences research, contributions include technical papers, a 3MT (three minute thesis) competition, digital images and posters. In addition, there are plenary talks from thought-leaders, as well as opportunities to interact with industry, publishers and other employers of defence and security researchers.

News

Smith, Mandy (2021). 2021 Defence and Security Doctoral Symposium (DSDS21) hosted by Cranfield University in conjunction with DSTL and AWE: Symposium outputs. Cranfield Online Research Data (CORD). Collection. https://doi.org/10.17862/cranfield.rd.c.5600316.v9

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Browsing DSDS 21 by Subject "'Defence Studies'"

Now showing 1 - 7 of 7
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    Boron Carbide-Silicon Carbide nanocomposites for next generation armour
    (Cranfield University, 2022-01-12T15:34:31Z) Payne, Henry (Harry)
    Modern warfare is developing rapidly; technology is becoming more advanced and the modern soldier requires more of it. With the increase in equipment there is an increase in weight which reduces mobility. Threats have also developed, in such environments greater protection can be required. Combining these two results shows a need to produce lighter armour with a higher level of protection. Boron Carbide (B4C) has shown great potential for use in armours. It has a high hardness and low density, but unfortunately it sometimes fails prematurely. This has been explained by a phase transformation involving polytype collapse. This research aims to mitigate structural breakdown by microstructural design. It is hypothesised that a composite containing nano grains of B4C and Silicon Carbide (SiC) can mitigate the polytype breakdown, whilst combining the low density of B4C with the ballistic reliability of SiC. Current work has focused on creating robust nanopowder production techniques. Silica particles, the precursors to SiC, have been successfully produced at 100 nm average size. This has been achieved by investigating various reaction ratios in order to determine the repeatability of the reaction and the suitability for industry. Further to this, successful analysis of B4C-SiC powders, produced using SiO2 nanoparticles has been completed. This work pushes forward the project into the final composite production phase with the aim of using nanoindentation to determine their suitability as ceramic armours.
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    Doping with Tungsten - Bad for Humans, Great for Tanks
    (Cranfield University, 2022-01-11T15:44:28Z) Powell, Daniel
    The distribution of energy within an armour system is a fundamental principle. The joining of the hard disruptive outer layer and soft absorbing backing layer is often a source of weakness in armour systems, causing premature failure and thus defeat of the armour. Novel adhesive techniques to join these thin layers together could have a greater impact on the armour performance with minimal additional weight. Doping epoxy with tungsten powder is one such technique that is currently being considered.
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    Home Made Explosives (HME), how to understand the threats and model the risk?
    (Cranfield University, 2022-01-12T12:46:55Z) Halleux, Francis
    Within the scope of countering the threat of Improvised Explosive Devices, HME constitute a major public security concern, requiring specific risk assessments for first responders such as Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) teams. An initial literature review helped identify current HME threats worldwide, i.e. the synthesis of peroxide explosives and/or the mixing of highly energetic pyrotechnics. Following a first study on Urea Hydrogen Peroxide as a potential emerging threat, Flash Powder (FP) is now investigated, considering the ease of manufacture combined with the availability of its precursors. FP can also be directly extracted from well-known fireworks, which are still widely available despite strong regulation efforts. These materials are much more than “just pyro’s”. Because of their explosive output, flash compositions have become attractive and largely misused by experimenters, ranging from backyard hobbyists to insurgents. Flash powder has been studied in the literature, but mainly in the context of regular applications. Research data are still lacking when it comes to performance as an explosive. After initial chemical, physical, and thermal characterization, sensitivity and performance assessments will be executed, including free-field and underwater firings and heat flux measurements.
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    The Importance of Defence Diplomacy in North South Relations and its Role in Defence and Security Landscape of a State
    (Cranfield University, 2022-01-14T15:44:37Z) Khalid, Faiq
    International relations, as a subject, mostly talks about war and peace. All schools of thought and theories, on one side, provide a lens to understand the power dynamics in the world, on the other hand, are interlinked and revolve around them. What matters in international relations is to avoid war and ensure peace. When it comes to peace, diplomacy is the best way and an imperative tool to achieve this important and necessary cornerstone of development. Interestingly, diplomacy is actually international relations. Due to globalization, non-traditional security threats and the Covid pandemic, the defence and security landscape of a state is among the most concerned area that requires rapid transformation and “out of the box solutions” to better equip itself to face the challenges. Defence diplomacy seems to be the most appropriate and right approach at the moment. Although the practice is being exercised for centuries it has never been as important as it is now. The research intends to find the potential benefits of defence diplomacy for the defence and security landscape of a state. In doing so, as a case study, the research focuses on the premier state from the global north who is practising defence diplomacy such as the UK and a developing state such as Pakistan from the global south. There are three core leverages that defence diplomacy provides to a state i.e., tactical, strategic and economic. The current defence diplomacy scholarship largely focuses on the tactical and strategic aspects whereas economic facets are never given due importance. Defence diplomacy provides a very important pillar to the defence industrial base of a state, and this industrial base do not act in isolation, it requires and develops sister industries which then boost economies. Defence diplomacy is practised by the most advanced nations with sound economic and financial standing in the world. The research intends to explore to what extent a developing state such as Pakistan can practice defence diplomacy keeping in view its economic situation and availability of resources. It is also evident that defence diplomacy has played a strategic role during the covid pandemic in the defence and security landscape of a state.
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    'The Power of Information – Threats and Opportunities in Defence Export Control'
    (Cranfield University, 2022-01-14T17:25:06Z) Dunn, Joe
    In Security and Defence, adherence to complex Export Control legislation is essential. For Governments, it is necessary to ensure that regulated items such as hardware, technical data, and defence services are only exported to authorised users. For Companies, it is vital that they comply with the applicable laws of all the countries concerned; otherwise, they can be fined or ultimately debarred, losing their ‘licence to trade’.Driven by the accelerated use of Information Technology, the risk balance has transformed from risks largely concerned with unlicensed hardware to now being centred on information risks. Recent cases highlight that the majority of alleged violations contain information assets. In tandem with this threat, opportunities have arisen since these information capabilities have also produced toolsets to help risk mitigation.This paper is based on research undertaken in support of an Export Control IT Automation programme. The methodology commenced with a Literature Review that included a detailed analysis of the allegations and the remedies reached for all US Department of State cases where a Consent Agreement was used to settle alleged Export Control violations. These include non-US Companies, as US Export Controls are applied extra-territorially.This work distils into themes the issues that have been encountered, and contains process-steps and measures that can be taken to mitigate risk. The findings also discuss the identified risks associated with managing Export Controlled information, and the types of IT Automation toolsets available to mitigate these risks.The work should be of interest to all parties involved in Export Control.
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    Visualising penetration in armour
    (Cranfield University, 2022-01-11T15:45:37Z) Powell, Daniel
    The human eye, CT scanning, X-ray radiography and Computer Aided Design (CAD) can all be used to visualise penetration in armour systems. This digital image demonstrates how these advanced techniques help us see a story that often seems non-existent to the human eye. X-ray radiography in the x and y axis paired with subsequent computer modelling allows the recreation of the crater and embedded material in 3D, enabling detailed analysis of the armour penetration. The volume of penetration can be measured with 95% accuracy from this CAD model when compared to the more expensive and complex, yet highly accurate, CT scanning. This demonstrates the reliability of this relatively simple and accessible methodology for quantifying damage in armour systems.
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    Visualising penetration in armour
    (Cranfield University, 2022-01-11T15:50:02Z) Powell, Daniel
    The human eye, CT scanning, X-ray radiography and Computer Aided Design (CAD) can all be used to visualise penetration in armour systems. This digital image demonstrates how these advanced techniques help us see a story that often seems non-existent to the human eye. X-ray radiography in the x and y axis paired with subsequent computer modelling allows the recreation of the crater and embedded material in 3D, enabling detailed analysis of the armour penetration. The volume of penetration can be measured with 95% accuracy from this CAD model when compared to the more expensive and complex, yet highly accurate, CT scanning. This demonstrates the reliability of this relatively simple and accessible methodology for quantifying damage in armour systems.