The total environment experienced by defence materiel is a combination of natural environments

Natural environments consist of those conditions of temperature, pressure, humidity, etc, that the materiel experiences at its physical global location. Natural environmental conditions are those conditions that a static inoperative item of materiel experiences at its external surfaces.

Induced environments consist of those conditions of vibration, temperature, chemical contamination, etc, that occur because of the operation, configuration, construction or use of the materiel.

This Part describes the range of induced mechanical environments likely to be encountered by materiel. Natural environments are covered in Part 4. Induced climatic environments are covered in Part 6.

This Pari describes and enumerates a wide range of induced mechanical environments encompassing most types of materiel. Excluded are the deployment platforms themselves, e.g. ship and aircraft structures, propulsion units, land vehicies, and buildings; excepting where the environmental response of a deployment platform forms a significant input to the materiel under consideration.

Only environmental conditions associated with normal Service are addressed in this Part. The information provided does not cover hostile, deliberate attack or live fire conditions, caused by shell fire or nearby bomb explosions. These conditions should be covered by project specific documentation.

The environments arising from the effects of nuclear explosions are addressed in Def Stan 084.

The characteristics and amplitudes of the induced mechanical environments encountered by materiel are identified in this Part by the phase in the logistical and operational sequence from its place of manufacture to its final intended use or disposal. Moreover, this Part has been rigorously structured to allow easy extraction of the information pertaining to each phase and type of deployment plaiform.

The information contained in this Part allows test methods to be selected and associated test severities for many induced environments to be derived, ranging from those for general application to those specific to a particular project. Where relevant the test methods identified in this Part refer to those specified in Part 3 of this Standard.

The individual physical characteristics of materiel occasionally prevents the estimation of induced mechanical environments from past experience. Consequently, the measurement of actual conditions expected to arise is often necessary. Advice is given as appropriate in this Part on the derivation of test severities from measured data.