Fundamentals of Random Vibration and Shock Testing with HALT, HASS, ESS and Fixture Design

We’ll commence by reviewing basic vibrations, sources and causes. Then we’ll explore vibration measurements, analysis and calibration. Our discussion is supported by projected visuals and video clips. We’ll compare sinusoidal vs. random vibration with emphasis on testing systems, specifications, standards and procedures. We’ll discuss ESS, HALT and HASS. We’ll emphasize vibration and shock test fixture design, fabrication, experimental evaluation and usage. Also shock measurement, shock response spectrum (SRS) and classical shock testing. We’ll review modal testing. Throughout, we emphasize topics you will use immediately. We will visit the onsite laboratory, where we will view, hear and touch (hearing and feeling the differences between sine and random vibration) on shakers. We will perform a resonance demonstration, using first sine and then random vibration. We will demonstrate shock testing, using both a shaker and a shock test machine. Many participants have commented that this visit was a high point of the course. Many participants protectively install commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) equipment in flight, land vehicles and shipboard locations subject to severe vibration and shock. Many participants laboratory test that protected equipment (1) to assure twenty years equipment survival and possible combat, also (2) to meet commercial test standards, IEC documents, DO-160G, military standards such as STANAG, MIL-STD-810G, etc. Few if any engineering schools teach about such protection or such testing. Thus we offer this specialized course.