Shock Testing Services
Shock tests are performed to assess the durability of a material and its capacity to withstand non-repetitive shocks and vibrations. Results from the tests determine the maximum force applied to the item, as well as its ability to withstand the force. Shock tables are used with controllers to precisely monitor the test parameters, and the tests can include vibration, drop, and shock tests.
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- Overview
- Scope, Applications, and Benefits
- Test Process
- Specifications
- Instrumentation
- Results and Deliverables
Shock Testing Services Overview
Mechanical shock testing evaluates how a product withstands sudden, severe, non-repetitive impacts and accelerations – the kind of brief, high-intensity forces that occur when an item is dropped, struck, transported over rough terrain, subjected to an explosive event, or experiences a hard landing. Unlike vibration, which applies repeated cyclic motion over time, a shock event is a single rapid transfer of energy lasting only milliseconds. Even though it is brief, a shock can generate very high peak accelerations that crack solder joints, loosen fasteners, fracture components, and cause immediate functional failure.
The test reproduces these events in a controlled, repeatable way using a shock machine (shock table) driven by a controller that precisely sets the pulse. The shock is defined by its waveform – most commonly a half-sine, sawtooth (terminal-peak), or trapezoidal pulse – together with its peak acceleration (in g) and duration (in milliseconds). By programming the waveform, amplitude, and number of shocks, and applying them along each axis, the test subjects the product to a known, reproducible shock environment matched to what it will encounter in service.
Shock testing is used to qualify products for transport, handling, and operational shock environments across electronics, aerospace, defense, automotive, and consumer products. It is frequently run alongside vibration and drop testing as part of a broader mechanical environmental or reliability program, and is governed by standards such as MIL-STD-810 (Method 516) and IEC 60068-2-27.
Shock Testing Services Scope, Applications, and Benefits
Scope
Mechanical shock testing covers the controlled application of defined shock pulses to a product to evaluate its ability to survive and continue functioning after sudden impact and acceleration events. The waveform, peak acceleration, duration, number of shocks, and axes are set by the applicable standard or specification.
Key aspects of the test scope include:
- Shock waveforms – half-sine, terminal-peak sawtooth, and trapezoidal pulses, selected to represent the relevant shock environment
- Defining parameters – peak acceleration (g), pulse duration (ms), and number of shocks per axis
- Multi-axis testing – shocks applied along each of the product’s principal axes (and both directions) to cover all orientations
- Operating and non-operating modes – the product may be tested powered/functioning or unpowered, depending on the requirement
- Classical and complex pulses – classical defined pulses (half-sine, etc.) and, where required, shock response spectrum (SRS) or transient/pyroshock representations
- Applicable standards – MIL-STD-810 Method 516 (functional shock, transit drop, crash hazard, etc.), IEC 60068-2-27 (Ea, shock), and related industry/product standards
- Specimen types – electronic and mechanical components, assemblies, and finished products
Applications
- Transport and handling qualification – confirming products survive the shocks of shipping, handling, and loading/unloading
- Aerospace and defense – qualifying equipment per MIL-STD-810 for functional shock, crash hazard, and transit environments encountered in service
- Electronics durability – verifying that circuit boards, modules, and devices withstand shock without solder-joint cracking, component damage, or malfunction
- Automotive components – qualifying components against the shock environment of vehicle operation, including rough-road and impact events
- Consumer products – confirming devices survive the drops and impacts of normal handling and use
- Reliability and qualification programs – shock as part of combined environmental and reliability testing, often alongside vibration and drop
- Crash and safety-related shock – evaluating equipment subjected to crash-hazard shock levels where applicable
Benefits
- Reproduces real impact events in a controlled way – the shock machine applies a precisely defined, repeatable pulse, so the product is tested against a known shock environment rather than an uncontrolled drop
- Defined waveform, amplitude, and duration – controlling the pulse shape, peak g, and duration means the test can be matched exactly to the standard or the real environment, and repeated consistently
- Reveals shock-specific failure modes – shock exposes weaknesses (solder-joint cracks, fastener loosening, component fracture, intermittent function) that steady-state or vibration testing may not produce
- Multi-axis coverage – applying shocks along all axes confirms the product survives impacts from any orientation
- Supports qualification across industries – the same core capability serves transport, aerospace/defense, automotive, and consumer shock requirements
- Integrates with broader testing – combined with vibration and drop testing, shock testing completes the mechanical environmental qualification of a product
Shock Testing Services Process
Define the Test
Set the waveform, peak acceleration, pulse duration, shock count, axes, and operating mode.
1Set Up and Calibrate
Mount the product, install accelerometers, confirm baseline performance, and calibrate the shock pulse.
2Apply the Shocks
Deliver the specified shocks in each axis while verifying pulse parameters and monitoring performance.
3Evaluate and Report
Inspect and test the product, then document the shock conditions, measured pulses, and pass/fail outcome.
4Shock Testing Services Technical Specifications
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Waveforms | Half-sine, terminal-peak sawtooth, trapezoidal (and SRS/transient where required) |
| Defining Parameters | Peak acceleration (g), pulse duration (ms), number of shocks |
| Axes | All principal axes and directions |
| Modes | Operating (powered) and non-operating |
| Applicable Standards | MIL-STD-810 Method 516, IEC 60068-2-27 |
| Equipment | Shock table/machine with controller and accelerometer feedback |
| Monitoring | Accelerometers; functional monitoring for operating tests |
Instrumentation Used for Shock Testing Services
- Mechanical shock test machine / shock table with programmable controller
- Accelerometers and signal conditioning for pulse measurement
- Shock control and data acquisition system
- Mounting fixtures for the device under test
- Functional monitoring equipment (for powered testing)
- Calibration load for pulse setup
Shock Testing Services Results and Deliverables
- Shock test report – the waveform, peak acceleration, pulse duration, number of shocks, and axes applied, with the measured pulses documented
- Measured pulse data – accelerometer records confirming each applied shock met the required waveform and tolerance
- Functional results – product performance during and after the shocks for operating tests, against the acceptance criteria
- Physical inspection findings – any structural or component damage observed after the shock sequence
- Pass/fail determination – outcome against the applicable standard or specification
- Test configuration records – mounting, orientation/axes, operating mode, and setup used
- Sample identification – product description, condition on receipt, and specimen details
Frequently Asked Questions
Products may experience shocks during transportation, handling, installation or operation. Testing helps confirm durability, improve design and reduce the risk of field failures or shipping damage.
Shock testing is commonly performed on electronics, batteries, aerospace equipment, automotive components, medical devices and military hardware. Packaged products and industrial machinery may also be evaluated.
A shock pulse represents the rapid change in acceleration applied to the specimen. Common pulse shapes include half-sine, sawtooth and trapezoidal pulses.
A shock response spectrum shows how systems with different natural frequencies respond to a shock event. It is commonly used to evaluate severe or complex shock environments.
Package shock testing evaluates whether packaging protects its contents from impacts during distribution. Drop, inclined-impact, horizontal-impact and shock-machine methods may be used.
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