Tender for the Supply and Installation of an Environmental Thermal Mechanical Test System to the University of Birmingham

The University of Birmingham invites tenders for supply of an environmental thermal mechanical test system for in-situ irradiation. The University operates an MC40 Cyclotron and a neutron beam facility is currently being built. The MC40 Cyclotron can produce the proton beam energies in the range of 3~38 MeV. To support the nuclear research in the UK, the University has been awarded a project by EPSRC to develop a system which will enable the mechanical testing of materials under vacuum (and potentially other environments), and with the capability of in-situ irradiation. The proposed system will have a digital control system to deliver custom deformation waveforms and cooled grips for temperature control. The system will offer the capability of vacuum (and potentially other environments), high temperature, mechanical testing with in-situ irradiation capability and integrated with Birmingham irradiation facility. Ultimately the system will enable the evaluation of the thermal-mechanical properties at application-relevant temperature with simultaneous irradiation of a range of nuclear fission and fusion materials. This project may be funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) or; - European Structural and Investment Fund (ESIF) or; - Research Councils UK (RCUK), the strategic partnership of the UK's seven Research Councils.