The IFWF consists of two fretting-wear test machines. Each machine comprises an excitation tube, support structure, vibration generator, and actuator control unit. Each machine includes high-temperature displacement probes, force transducers, and associated instrumentation, such as a liquid level monitor, pressure gauge and temperature controller. The team of scientists, engineers and technologists who operate the IFWF have many years of experience in the field of flow-induced vibration and fretting wear, making them ideally suited to support partnerships with the IFWF.
The staff in the MDL are members of the Materials and Mechanics Branch at CRL. All MDL staff have extensive experience in working with the R&D community in the design and fabrication of R&D experimental apparatus as well as retaining certification as machinists/tool and die.
Corporate Profile AECL is Canada’s premier nuclear science and technology organization. For over 60 years, AECL has been a world leader in developing peaceful and innovative applications from nuclear technology through its expertise in physics, metallurgy, chemistry, biology and engineering.
The Impact Fretting-Wear Facility is unique in Canada because of its capability to perform tests at reactor operating conditions, while controlling the temperature, pressure, and chemistry of the experiment. The IFWF has very broad experience in this field and has accumulated an extensive database of fretting-wear results, making the IFWF ideal for testing new materials and/or operating conditions.
As Canada’s premier nuclear science and technology (S&T) organization AECL serves an important public policy role in nuclear matters, providing advice, counsel and service as an agent of the federal government. We serve the nation as an enabler of business innovation and technology transfer. And, we foster the development of highly-qualified people for the knowledge economy to come.