Products that are subjected to vibration or mechanical shock during use experience stresses that are difficult to fully characterize even with today's numerical analysis techniques. In the lab, the product is subjected to vibration in each of the three axes X, Y and Z using electrodynamic vibration machines in the frequency range 5 Hz to 2,000 Hz.

Vibration can be applied using either sine, random or sine-on-random control techniques. Many older methods still specify sine which is also useful for experimentation and determining resonances.

A more accurate simulation of many real-world conditions is achieved with random vibration control. Random vibration subjects the product to all of the frequencies in a band of frequencies.

Sine-on-random superimposes a sine signal onto a random signal to simulate helicopter or aircraft gunfire environments.

The electrodynamic machines are also used to generate highly repeatable shock events. Standard shock pulses such as half-sine, saw tooth and trapezoid shapes are all available. Higher accelerations can also be performed on the pneumatic assist drop-shock machine.

Clients with HALT reliability testing requirements combine rapid temperature transitions with vibration testing in our AGREE chamber with transition rates as high as 20C per minute.

Vibration

EIA-364-28E
GMW3172
IEC 60068-2-64
IEC 61373
IEC 68-2-26
ISO 16750-3
JIS D 1601
MIL-STD-167
MIL-STD-202 Methods 201A, 204D & 214A
RTCA/DO-160E Sect. 8

Mechanical Shock

EIA-364-27B
GMW3172
IEC 68-2-27
IEC 60068-2-64
IEC 61373
ISO 16750-3
MIL-STD-202 Method 213B
RTCA/DO-160E Sect. 7