Blowing Dust Test and Blowing Sand Test on Military Vehicle

Our laboratory in Pomezia, specialized in conducting environmental tests for the qualification of avionics and military components, recently performed Blowing Dust and Blowing Sand tests using a dedicated setup.
The activities were carried out in accordance with the MIL-STD-810F standard on a new 4-axle, 8x8 all-wheel-drive military vehicle, complying with the specific parameters required by the client, Iveco Defence Vehicles S.p.A.

To enable the execution of the tests, a field tent was specially set up to accommodate the vehicle, simulating the extreme environmental conditions in which it is expected to operate. The aim of the tests was to verify the proper functionality of the vehicle in desert or dusty environments, characterized by the presence of wind, sand, and suspended dust.

Blowing Dust Test – Procedure I (MIL-STD-810F, Method 510.4)
During the Blowing Dust test, the EUT (Equipment Under Test) was exposed to an airstream containing fine dust, under the following operating parameters:
• Ambient temperature: T < +40°C
• Relative humidity: < 30%
• Dust concentration: 1.0 g/m³
• Dust particle size: < 150 µm
• Air velocity: 8.9 ± 1.3 m/s
• No. of exposures: 1
• Total duration: 12 hours (6 hours in storage mode + 6 hours in operational mode)

This test enabled the assessment of the vehicle's performance in dusty environments by simulating operational conditions typical of desert scenarios.

Blowing Sand Test – Procedure II (MIL-STD-810F, Method 510.4)
The subsequent Blowing Sand test involved exposing the vehicle to sand with larger particle sizes and more intense airflows. The parameters set were as follows:
• Ambient temperature: T < +40°C
• Relative humidity: < 30%
• Sand concentration: 1.0 g/m³
• Sand particle size: < 850 µm
• Air velocity: 18 m/s ÷ 29 m/s
• No. of exposures: 5
• Duration of each exposure: 90 minutes
• Total duration: 450 minutes

The test allowed verification of the vehicle's robustness and reliability under critical conditions, typical of desert environments with strong sand-laden winds.

To learn more about all our testing services in the avionics and military sectors, visit the dedicated page.