Today and in the near future we protectively install commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) equipment in our flight, land vehicles and shipboard locations where vibration and shock can be severe. We laboratory test the protected equipment (1) to assure twenty years equipment survival and possible combat, also (2) to meet commercial test standards, IEC documents, military standards such as STANAG or MIL-STD-810G, etc. Few if any engineering schools teach about such protection or such testing.
Hence this specialized course.

presented by
Wayne Tustin

August 20-22, 2008
(8am - 4pm)

at

Waterfront Center
125 Harbor Way
Santa Barbara, California 93109

Course description
Discussion, supported by projected visuals and video clips. Commencing with a review of basic vibrations, sources and causes, we will explore vibration measurements, analysis and calibration. We’ll compare sinusoidal vs. random vibration testing systems, specifications, standards and procedures. We will 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 shock testing. Review of modal testing. We emphasize topics you will use immediately.

Objectives
After this short course, you will be able to

• measure vibration and shock,
• calibrate vibration and shock measurement systems,
• convert field measured data into a test program,
• interpret vibration and shock test requirements,
• supervise vibration and shock tests,
• specify and experimentally evaluate vibration and shock test fixtures,
• perform ESS, HALT and HASS.

When you visit a lab or review a test program, you will have a good understanding of the requirements and execution of a dynamics test and so be able to ask meaningful questions and understand the lab’s responses.

For whom intended

• I instrument land, sea and air vehicles as well as fixed-based equipment, in order to measure mechanical vibration and/or shock in service and during transport.

• I analyze dynamic responses to mechanical vibration and shock inputs during normal and abnormal transport.

• My title may be mechanical engineer, mechanical designer or packaging engineer. I design (ruggedize) products that must withstand factory handling + transport + normal and abnormal usage. I design products to dynamic requirements, which I don't fully understand. Then I send a prototype to our lab for testing. I really don't understand what our lab does. I'd better find out.

• I write contracts for procuring high-rel equipment. I need to understand HALT, ESS and HASS. When do these acronyms apply? How do I insure that potential contractors will appropriately implement the random vibration requirements of these acronyms? What is g²/Hz?

• I work in an environmental test lab. We perform vibration and shock tests on prototype hardware. These tests may be part of developing a new product, of determining vibration levels for future production ESS (environmental stress screening) or production tests, or of investigating in-service or transport failures.

• I calibrate various vibration and shock sensors (including accelerometers) and analyze vibration and/or shock.

• I design to control (reduce) the intensity of vibration and/or shock, which otherwise may damage equipment that cannot be made sufficiently rugged to survive all inputs.

• I maintain machinery whose vibration signature can warn of approaching failure.

If you thought, "aha - that's what I'm supposed to do" to any of the job descriptions listed above, then the instructor says, "This course is intended for you." It will help you move up your own "learning curve."

A smaller group, for whom the instructor also intends this course: supervisors of any of the above listed activities. Perhaps you were thrust into this responsibility without adequate training. Maybe your predecessor had no opportunity to alert you to potential difficulties. You certainly need to know what your people are talking about. Possibly you had no formal training for your present responsibilities. You need to explain your department's activities to your superiors in the technically correct language. Perhaps you need to decide between "in house" and "outside" testing.

Course Outline

• Purpose of environmental testing, particularly vibration and shock
• Purpose of environmental stress screening (ESS)
• Types of vibration tests: resonance search/dwell, fatigue, specification
• Approximate scheduling so managers can audit special topics

• Introduction: terminology, structural resonant behavior, passive and active isolation
• Sinusoidal vibration measurements: units, sensors, readouts, errors
• Calibration of sensors and systems; traceability to NIST

• Electrohydraulic and electrodynamic shakers; theory, tradeoffs, limits
• Power amplifier theory, operation, limitations, distortion effects
• Controls for sinusoidal vibration testing
• Sinusoidal vibration test practice
  • Interpretation of standards; e.g. MIL-STD-810
  • Controversial test methodology: tracking filters, switching and averaging among sensors

• Sources of random vibration in service and transportation
• No possible equivalence to sinusoidal vibration
• Terminology and definitions
• Spectral density measurement and analysis - the frequency domain. What is g²/Hz?
• Probability density - the time domain

• Interpreting and implementing standards, e.g. MIL-STD-810
• Equalization before testing; methods and limits
• Controls
• Electronic protection for test items and shaker system

• Single vs. multi-axis vibration
• Pneumatic repetitive-shock machines

• Single vs. multi-axis vibration.
• Pneumatic repetitive-shock (RS) machines.
• Acoustic excitation of printed wiring boards (PWB).

• Recommended designs, materials, fabrication methods
• Experimental evaluation before use
• Practical limits: transverse motion; specimen size and weight

• Table expanders
• Slip plates and alternatives

• Sensors, readouts, errors
• Calibration

Location
Waterfront Center - Marine Center Classroom
125 Harbor Way
Santa Barbara, California 93109

Tel: (805) 564-5530

Parking

• Main Harbor parking lot: $1.50/hr., $9 daily maximum
• Honor Fee “Pay-In-Advance” parking at Harbor West parking lot: $2/3hr., $4/6hr., $7 daily maximum
• Limited 90 minute parking (free) along Harbor Way

Directions:

Coming from south of Santa Barbara on State Highway 101 (Northbound 101):
• Take the Garden St.-Downtown/Laguna St. exit
• Proceed straight on exit/off ramp to Garden St.-Downtown (do not veer to the right)
• Turn left on Garden St. and go to Cabrillo Blvd.
• Turn right on Cabrillo Blvd. Continue on Cabrillo past Stearns Wharf (State St.) and Los Baños pool (Castillo St.)
• Turn left on Harbor Way (across from Santa Barbara Community College, La Playa Stadium)

Coming from north of Santa Barbara on State Highway 101 (Southbound 101):
• Take the Castillo St. exit
• Turn right onto Castillo. Continue to Shoreline Dr.
• Turn right onto Shoreline Drive. Continue to Harbor Way
• Turn left on Harbor Way (across from Santa Barbara Community College, La Playa Stadium)

Suggestion for Accommodation
Please visit this web site for hotel options. The course will be held at the Waterfront Center, located at the Harbor, downtown Santa Barbara.

Hours
8am to 4pm

Fee
Fee is US$2,395 per student. Payment in advance via check, VISA or Mastercard preferred credit cards or bank transfer (ask for transfer details).

For registration and payment received one month prior to course, deduct $100. For three or more participants from an organization and payment received one month prior to course, deduct $200 each.

Back to top