Random Vibration Testing is one of the more common types of vibration testing services performed by vibration test labs. A primer containing a technical explanation on random vibration testing can be found in our blog article Sinusoidal and Random Vibration Testing Primer.
Real world vibrations are usually of the random type. Vibrations from automobiles, aircraft, rockets are all random. A random vibration test can be correlated to a service life if the field vibrations are known. Since random vibration contains all frequencies simultaneously, all product resonances will be excited together which could be worse than exciting them individually as in sine testing. Sometimes random vibrations are mixed with sine vibrations in Sine-on-Random Vibration Testing. Also, a low level of broad band random vibration can be mixed with additional high levels of narrow band random vibrations in Random-on-Random Vibration Testing.
Some common test standards that have specifications for Random Vibration Testing are:
- ASTM D4169 Standard Practice for Performance Testing of Shipping Containers and Systems
- ASTM D4728 Standard Test Method for Random Vibration Testing of Shipping Containers
- GMW 3172 General Motors Specification for Electrical/Electronic Components – Environmental/Durability
- IEC 60068-2-64 Environmental testing Part 2-64: Tests Fh: Vibration, Broadband Random and Guidance
- ISTA 2A and 3A Procedures for Testing Packaged Products
- MIL-STD-202 Department of Defense Test Method Standard for Electronic and Electrical Component Parts
- MIL-STD-810 Department of Defense Test Method Standard for Environmental Engineering Considerations and Laboratory Tests
- MIL-STD-883 Department of Defense Test Method Standard for Microcircuits
- RTCA DO-160 Environmental Conditions and Test Procedures for Airborne Equipment
- SAE J1455 Recommended Environmental Practices for Electronic Equipment Design in Heavy-Duty Vehicle Applications