Vibration Testing

Vibration testing mimics the conditions that a product or structure might see during its lifetime while under a test environment. Intended to ensure that products are robust and perform safely during operation or transit, vibration testing detects performance issues and potential failures before they start.

It is usually distinguished on the basis of mechanical shock testing and its application for different periods which may vary from a few minutes to weeks. Moreover, in order to produce a defined vibration, we use electromagnetic vibration exciter (aka a shaker). This helps in converting electric signals into mechanical movements which are further controlled to maintain the vibration force or level as per specified standards.

Why Vibration Testing?

Vibration tests are done on various equipment but there are many reasons behind the application of this test. Two of the major reasons are:

• Rather than the actual vibration level, the response to the vibration force is recorded in order to determine the dynamic properties of the object. Thus, we perform our best to find out the ability of the object to transmit vibration and its modes at resonance.
• Furthermore, at a prescribed vibration level, the vibration test is necessary to compare the transducers to be calibrated and the reference transducer.

The purpose behind vibration testing

Usually, the tests are held with the extremely severe vibration level ever recorded. The major purpose behind this action is to determine the stimulated life of the product by performing the test for hours, days, and even weeks. Such severe tests include Highly Accelerated Life Tests (HALT) and Environmental Stress Screening (ESS) that help in reporting the units that ensure the hardness of the product to the customer, once the product survives the test without losing its expected remaining life.

The applications of Vibration or shock Testing

• For objects that stimulate in shipping environment, the frequency of the test remains between 5 Hz and 3 kHz. This is because such products are exposed to high vibration levels during transportation.
• Generally, vibration tests are performed one axis at one time than in all 3 axes. Shakers used for the test are made to shake the product in the vertical direction and, to cover the entire axis; the object is rotated to apply vibration in all direction.
• As far as large samples are concerned, they are vibrated horizontally instead of vertically due to some functional reasons. The slip table, in this case, consists of a massive metal plate that helps in keeping the weight down, massive granite block, and continuously pumps lubricating oil.
• The vibration response which is higher than the vibration input is termed as resonance. To look for this resonance and perform the tests with significant resonance frequency, initial sine sweep or random tests are done.
• Aerospace components usually face challenges like temperature, volatile weather conditions, atmospheric pressure, and heavy loads which is why dynamic measurement application ranging from rotating analysis of the products to large channel count analysis, ground vibration tests, and acoustic test.
• Finally, there is the automobile industry as the manufacturers are under the constant pressure of producing the long-lasting automobiles and vehicles with well-controlled NVH (noise, vibration, and harshness) qualities.  Therefore, the application of the vibration tests varies from acoustic, rotational, and structural testing.

Our qualified engineers ensure the high quality of the product by proffering a wide range of vibration and shock testing services. With our years of expertise and knowledge, we can help you determine the best design for your product and its reliability.