MAE Test and Burst of a SCBA Cylinder - Self Contained Breathing Apparatus

Modal Acoustic Emission (MAE) is approved by the US DOT via SP-16190 for the requalification of SCBA’s. It is also approved via SP-15720 for life extension of SCBA’s past 15 years of use for the US Navy. Soon Digital Wave Corporation will have exciting news for the market. This will be at our next SP receipt for life extension of civilian SCBA’s past 15 years. We hope to have this news for you in the near future!
In this video we explain the use of Modal Acoustic Emission(MAE) testing and its application to a Self Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) cylinders. This specific video is regarding a SCBA that we intentionally notched the composite overwrap by 50%. Even with such a severe notch the SCBA nearly makes test pressure. This goes to show how overdesigned and safe these SCBA vessels are. Yes, the beginning is a bit dry as the MAE test procedure is explained. However you are rewarded at the end as we take this SCBA to failure. The video portion of the actual SCBA burst starts at around the 4:05 minute mark. The final catastrophic failure occurs at around the 6:05 minute mark as the SCBA fails at nearly 13,000 PSI!