In eastern China, a new machine has just seen the light of day. The CHIEF project promises to simulate extreme physical forces to explore natural phenomena that are impossible to recreate otherwise.
The installation, activated recently, is at the heart of a leading scientific ambition. Developed by theUniversité from Zhejiang, this structure impresses with its capacity: it can generate a gravitational force 1900 times greater than that of the Earth. A performance which greatly surpasses the previous record, held by the United States. In fact, this installation can reach a acceleration 1900g compared to 1200g in the previous record.
Designed to study complex phenomena, the platform combines three giant centrifuges and 18 on-board units. These devices spin samples at extreme speed, pushing heavy materials outwards and thus recreating hypergravity conditions. The objective: to analyze the impact of these forces on structures such as dams or geological formations. One of the major interests of this project lies in the compression of scientific time. Using CHIEF, natural processes that take decades or even centuries can be simulated in just days. This allows us to better understand phenomena such as mountain erosion or seismic movements.
Beyond geology, this installation is an asset for energy exploration. Researchers aim to perfect the extraction of hydrates from natural gasenergetic crystals found under the oceans and permafrost. These resources could modify the production ofclean energybut their extraction remains delicate.
At the same time, CHIEF will be used to improve the security of critical infrastructure. Scientists will be able to test the resistance of dams, embankments or tunnels under extreme conditions, thus avoiding potential disasters. Engineering of the deep sea and deep environments is also among the priorities.
Technical precision is essential for these experiments. Centrifuges must maintain absolute stability while generating titanic forces. The control system is capable of managing an impressive mass of data in real time to guarantee reliable results.
Photo: ifeng
With a budget exceeding $276 million, this project is part of a broad vision of China, which places scientific innovation at the heart of its development. Included in the 13th five-year plan, CHIEF aims to become a global reference in research interdisciplinary.
What is hypergravity?
Hypergravity refers to a state in which gravitational forces are greater than those we experience on Earth (1 g). It is measured in multiples of the gravity terrestrial, for example 2g, 10g, or in the case of CHIEF, up to 1900g.
To generate this hypergravity, we use centrifuges, machines that rotate at high speed. Their rotation creates centrifugal force, simulating much higher gravity by pushing objects outwards.
This phenomenon is used in several scientific fields. It helps to simulate extreme conditions, such as those of the deep seabed, or to test the resistance of materials and structures under significant stresses.
In laboratories, hypergravity also makes it possible to accelerate natural processes. For example, geological phenomena taking place over centuries can be reproduced in a few hours, making them easier to understand and study.