System monitors health of new composite military missiles

Douglas Adams, an associate professor of mechanical engineering at Purdue, uses an "impact tower" to test a new type of military missile casing made of composite materials. The tower rams a steel rod into casings with enough force to punch holes in military armor. The testing simulates impacts from debris and tools striking the casing or mishaps, such as personnel accidentally dropping a missile. The work is part of research to develop a "structural health monitoring" system to detect flaws that could hinder the performance of new types of military missiles made of composite materials instead of metal. Credit: Purdue News Service file photo/David Umberger