Director: Chloe Agg

In recent years, there has been growing recognition of the need for standardised 
and accurate testing methods for menstrual products due to their significance in 
women’s health. However, the lack of British standards has led to methods that 
don’t reflect real-life usage. Many tests use saline water instead of menstrual 
fluid, which differs in viscosity, flow properties, and chemical composition. 
Additionally, saline is often tested at temperatures that don’t reflect the body’s 
natural conditions, leading to unrepresentative results. This project
aimed to develop a universal testing rig for menstrual products, ensuring accurate, 
repeatable, and representative testing under realistic conditions. 

Subgroups

Dynamics

Supervisor: Ulrich Hansen
Team: Karelina Chitambara, Patrick Henry, Mary Sowter, Gornekk Suwattanapong

The dynamics team developed a mechanical system, driven by actuators and motors, to achieve both rotational and linear displacement. The rotational motion mimics the pelvic tilt seen in walking and running, while the linear motion replicates the vertical rise and fall of the pelvis. These motions will be tested both separately and in combination to analyse their impact on sanitary product absorption and leakage. 

Heating System

Supervisor: Huizhi Wang
Team: Suraya Williams, Sophie Roberts, Marcellus Su Kwong Ping, Nathaneal Sajan

This sub-assembly designed a heating system which can keep both the vaginal canal and menstrual blood at body temperature (37°C ±0.5°C). The heating system works in tandem with the fluid injection system to allow simulant menstrual blood to be heated and transported into the rig for testing.

Labia & Internal Forces

Supervisor: Zhengchu Tan
Team: Leesha D’Souza, Tanadon Tharahirunchot, Orlando Loo Alford, Zhuoyi Chen

This subassembly aimed to develop an anatomically accurate model that replicates the vaginal canal and labia using materials with mechanical properties similar to real human tissue, while also designing a system to realistically simulate internal forces.