Technology
Founded in 1946 as the College of Aeronautics, Cranfield University www.cranfield.ac.uk is a British postgraduate-only research university specialising in science, engineering, design, technology and management. A leader in the research and development of aircraft throughout the 1950’s and 1960’s culminating in 1969 with the College of Aeronautics being renamed Cranfield Institute of Technology and becoming a university under royal charter, with degree awarding powers. Cranfield Institute of Technology adopted the name Cranfield University in 1993.
Cranfield University has two campuses: the main campus is at Cranfield, Bedfordshire, with the second at the Defence Academy of the United Kingdom at Shrivenham, Oxfordshire. The main campus is unique in the United Kingdom (and Europe) for having its own airport – Cranfield Airport – and its own aircraft, primarily used for research.
Soteria Shielding Systems Ltd has partnered with Cranfield University to research and design the development of defensive armour systems, enabling the protection of subterranean critical assets against aerial threats, including energy production or storage facilities, water storage infrastructure, and data centres.
Research and Development
- In a layered format to contain the blast damage against identified CI elements including but not limited to sub-terranean energy storage. (please see the Aggressive Threat/CI Index in the Threat Assessment).
RFI to be lodged by SSSL with Cranfield University:
- To Identify, assess, and provide information on the physical (conventional and hybrid) aggressive threats relevant to strategic critical infrastructure (CI) across listed geographical locations.
In addition, a single sheet form for the purpose of building lightweight humanitarian shelters:
- To ascertain how and where such protection can be deployed across a spectrum of environments including sub-sea.
- The research will include sustainable materials in line with US STED and NATO requirements
The project scope will follow a core four-stage program, culminating in scaled demonstration of key elements of the designed systems.
Phase 1 – Threat and Risk Assessment
- RFI to be lodged by SSS with Cranfield University to Identify, assess, and provide information on the physical (conventional and hybrid) aggressive threats relevant to strategic critical infrastructure (CI) across listed geographical locations. – Lodged
Phase 2 - Design of the Protective System
- Utilising output from Phase 1 (the Threat Assessment-Aggressive Threat/CI Index ) + information from Soteria and background review of extant approaches, potential concepts for protective solution to be identified.
- Engineering design to be developed (drawings + material details) with supporting report explaining rationale.
- Production of 3D physical concept model to aid concept communication.
Phase 3 - Numerical Model.
- Investigation of material models for finalised design.
- Experiments as required to calibrate literature based on high strain rate/strength models.
- Computational simulations of finalised design – provision of simulation file + images of supporting report.
Phase 4 - Physical Testing and Documenting.
- Documented (film footage) small – medium scale testing utilising Cranfield’s explosive ranges.
Applications
As we have seen from powerful storms, seismic events and conflicts over the years, most recently Ukraine, above ground critical infrastructures (pilons, base/relay stations etc) are one of the first things to be taken out of commission. The goal of Soteria Shielding Systems is to turn these soft targets into hard targets.
Without ENERGY we cannot move forward.
The highest level of resilience designed by Soteria Shielding Systems, is a subterranean facility, with sufficient stored energy capable of withstanding a direct hit from a ‘bunker buster’ type of attack. This would allow the local economy to function short term, whilst the above ground damage is rebuilt and repaired.
Without COMMUNICATION we cannot rebuild
It is almost impossible for a modern society to function without access to data (internet/IT) and the means to relay that data to where it is needed. Soteria Shielding System’s secondary resilience platform acts as a ‘shock absorber’ allowing datarooms and systems to withstand the kinetic energy of high intensity storms or certain seismic events.
Without HUMANS we have no humanity
The cost of ongoing conflict and weather events can sometimes be just as high as the initial events themselves. A by-product of Soteria Shielding System’s research and development will be shrapnel absorption curtain, with sufficient protective dynamics to reduce collateral damage.
