1.1 Purpose
Sand and dust environments include a wide range of materials and particulate size distributions. Method 510 defines dust as particulates less than 150 μm in diameter. Sand is defined as particulates in the range from 150 to 850 μm in diameter. The test method includes two procedures:
- a. Dust (< 150 µm) procedure. This test is performed to evaluate the ability of materiel to resist the effects of dust that may obstruct openings, penetrate into cracks, crevices, bearings, and joints, and to evaluate the effectiveness of filters.
- b. Sand (150 to 850 μm particle size) procedure. This test is performed to evaluate the ability of materiel to be stored and operated in blowing sand conditions without degrading performance, effectiveness, reliability, and maintainability due to abrasion (erosion) or clogging effects of sharp-edged particles.
1.2 Application
Use this Method to evaluate all mechanical, optical, electrical, electronic, electrochemical, and electromechanical devices (to include, but not limited to, platform mounted and man-portable) likely to be exposed to dry blowing sand or blowing dust-laden atmospheres.
1.3 Limitations
This Method is not suitable for determining the effects of a buildup of electrostatic charge. Additionally, because of control problems, this Method does not address sand or dust testing outdoors. This Method doesn't address settling dust.
When a requirement exists for weapon system components such as windows/radomes, nose cones, airframes, leading edges, control surfaces, thermal protection systems, and fuzes to operate during weather encounter to include flight through abrasive particles, such as sand, dust and volcanic ash, a tailored test approach must be utilized based on the system configuration, trajectories, and system specific statistically based weather occurrence. Abrasive particles (sand, dust, ash) may vary depending on the global region and must be defined prior to ground test and evaluation. Traceability must be addressed between realistic flight through weather and ground test methods to ensure adequate performance characterization is achieved. Ground test methods include the use of sand/dust erosion facilities, multiple particle impact facilities, whirling-arm impact, ballistic gun ranges to induce high speed/hypersonic integrated sand, dust, and ash erosion effects on flight components. For hypersonic item testing consider utilizing the methods described in Technical Report AMR-PS-08-01. For Rotor Blade Material testing consider utilizing the method described in MIL-STD-3033.