The CBRN and Survivability Group integrates CBRNe hazard science, weapon effects research, armour and protection technologies, and survivability engineering to improve resilience across complex and high-threat environments.
Key focus areas and capabilities
The CBRN and Survivability Group integrates expertise in protective engineering, weapon effects and CBRNe science to understand and enhance how materials, systems and structures perform under ballistic, blast, high strain rate and hazardous environmental threats. We characterise both conventional and additively manufactured materials and analyse their response to projectile impact, fragmentation, explosive loading and other extreme conditions using gas guns, controlled impact facilities and advanced diagnostics. Our microscopy and microstructural analysis capabilities reveal damage and failure mechanisms, supporting armour and PPE development, protective engineering, dynamic blast and ballistic modelling, and the evaluation of complex weapon and CBRNe effects. This includes threat assessment, radiological transport modelling, shielding analysis, chemical agent testing, and the design of X ray and networked sensor detection systems—delivering comprehensive survivability insight across defence and security environments.
Facilities and equipment
Our facilities include indoor and outdoor ballistic ranges, access to COTEC for full scale energetic trials, and a comprehensive microscopy and materials analysis suite. We also maintain a wide range of radiological sources (alpha, beta, gamma and neutron) with associated detectors, spectroscopy systems and a gamma imager to support radiological experimentation and training. Alongside this, we maintain dedicated capability for chemical agent testing, supported by extensive analytical resources within 探花精选 Defence and Security—including DSC, TGA/DSC (with and without MS), bomb calorimetry, FTIR (ATR and gas cell), gas pycnometry, UV Vis, hot/cold stage microscopy and BET analysis, as well as GC MS, HPLC, elemental analysis, XRD, SEM and NMR. These experimental, radiological and chemical analysis capabilities are complemented by advanced modelling tools, enabling end to end investigation of survivability and CBRNe hazards.
Collaboration opportunities
We collaborate widely with government, MoD, policing, industry and international partners on survivability challenges spanning ballistic and blast protection, high strain rate materials response, CBRNe hazard analysis, chemical agent testing, armour and PPE development, and advanced protective engineering. Our comprehensive experimental, radiological and chemical analytical facilities, together with strong modelling capability, enable joint research, capability development, doctoral supervision, bespoke training delivery and technical support to complex national security problems. This interdisciplinary strength positions the CBRNe Survivability Group as a partner of choice for organisations seeking evidence based solutions to survivability and CBRNe threat environments.
