Through its expertise in mechanical testing, nC2 helped the National Museum of the Royal Navy select the best performing sealant products for the conservation of Nelson’s flagship, HMS Victory.
The challenge: selecting the best performing sealant
Examining the planking
The National Museum of the Royal Navy (NMRN) is undertaking a 10-year restoration project to replace HMS Victory’s external planking, which is breaking down and letting in damaging rainwater.
As part of a package of materials testing, the NMRN asked us for help selecting the right sealant for use between the ship’s timbers – critical for holding the new planking together and protecting it from the elements for years to come.
As described in the conservation management plan, the overriding aim of the programme is “to deliver a fully conserved HMS Victory, in an open environment, and in a condition to survive for 50 years without major work beyond a programme of planned maintenance.” nC2’s testing and analysis was key to making this aim a reality.
Applying nC2’s mechanical testing expertise
Tensile testing
We designed a suite of mechanical tests using hundreds of specially prepared oak samples to test different types of glue and caulking under different conditions.
Two types of test were needed:
- Tensile testing (measuring the force needed to pull samples apart).
- Shear testing (measuring the sliding stress between adjacent samples).
The samples were prepared and tested under simulated conditions reflecting typical environmental and weather conditions as well as potential extremes.
- Room temperature (dry) – samples tested in a temperature-controlled room, moisture checks performed on the wood.
- Heated (dry) – samples kept in an oven at +70 degrees Celsius, then tested inside a heated chamber.
- Cold temperature (dry) – samples kept in a freezer at minus 20 degrees Celsius, then tested inside a cooled chamber.
- Soaked (cyclical ageing) – samples exposed to a three-week cycle of heating and soaking prior to testing.
nC2’s added value
We brought to the project:
- Knowledge and experience to interpret the brief to get the right insights for the client.
- The ability to design and deliver on a complex suite of bespoke mechanical tests.
- Facilities for testing under a range of simulated and real in-service conditions.
- The specialist expertise to analyse and interpret the results, and present them clearly to the client.
The outcome: preserving a maritime icon for future generations
The results provided the evidence base the NMRN team needed to select the best performing product to ensure HMS Victory remains weatherproof for decades to come.
Shear testing
Tensile testing
Testing heated samples
Samples were kept in an oven at 70 degrees Celcius, then tested inside a heated chamber
Testing cooled samples
Samples were kept at minus 20 degrees Celcius, then tested inside a cooled chamber
