Vibration Testing

Scope

Vibration testing covers the controlled application of sine, random, and combined vibration to products on a shaker, with closed-loop control and monitoring, to evaluate survival, function, fatigue, and resonance behavior. The profile, levels, duration, and axes are set by the applicable standard or specification.

Key aspects of the test scope include:

• Sine vibration – swept-sine across a frequency range to identify resonances and apply sine-dwell at critical frequencies; defined by frequency, amplitude (acceleration/displacement), and sweep rate
• Random vibration – broadband excitation defined by a power spectral density (PSD) profile and overall g-RMS, best representing real transport and operational environments
• Combined profiles – sine-on-random and random-on-random for environments containing both broadband and tonal content
• Resonance search and dwell – identifying natural frequencies and dwelling at them to evaluate fatigue at the most damaging frequencies
• Multi-axis testing – vibration applied along each principal axis (sequentially on single-axis shakers)
• Operating and non-operating modes – products tested powered/functioning or unpowered for survival
• Applicable standards – MIL-STD-810 Method 514, IEC 60068-2-6 (sine), IEC 60068-2-64 (random), ISTA procedures, ASTM D4169 (distribution), and industry/product standards

Applications

• Transport and distribution – qualifying packaged products against the random vibration of truck, rail, air, and sea transport (e.g., ASTM D4169, ISTA), often alongside shock and compression
• Automotive components – durability and qualification of automotive electronics and components against the broadband vibration of vehicle operation
• Aerospace and defense – vibration qualification per MIL-STD-810 for equipment exposed to the demanding vibration environments of aircraft, launch, and ground vehicles
• Electronics durability – verifying that boards, modules, and devices withstand vibration without solder-joint cracking, connector wear, or intermittent function
• Resonance and fatigue evaluation – identifying natural frequencies and assessing fatigue life at critical frequencies during design
• Reliability and qualification programs – vibration as part of combined environmental and reliability testing (with temperature, shock, etc.)
• Production screening – vibration screening of production units to precipitate latent workmanship defects
• Consumer products – confirming products survive the vibration of shipping and normal use

Benefits

• Reproduces real vibration environments precisely – closed-loop control with accelerometer feedback makes the applied vibration match the target sine or random profile accurately and repeatably
• Random vibration represents reality – real transport and operational vibration is broadband, so PSD-defined random testing reflects actual service conditions far better than single-frequency excitation alone
• Finds resonances where damage concentrates – resonance searches reveal the natural frequencies at which the product is most vulnerable, focusing attention where failures actually occur
• Reveals fatigue and workmanship failures – sustained vibration exposes fatigue cracking, loosening, and marginal workmanship that static or short tests miss
• Multi-axis coverage – testing along all axes confirms the product withstands vibration regardless of orientation in service
• Supports qualification and screening across industries – the same core capability serves transport, aerospace/defense, automotive, electronics, and consumer requirements, for both design qualification and production screening