This sounds like an easy shock to carry out because a peak of 35G is low compared to many shocks. However, this is a difficult shock to perform because 50 milliseconds is a long duration. Most typical shock durations are less than 20 milliseconds.

A half sine shock impulse has the shape of a half sine wave. More details can be found elsewhere on our blog, in an article titled “Classical Shock Testing“.

A half sine shock impulse is created when the shock machine table accelerates downward, then impacts a rubber material and changes direction abruptly. This abrupt change in direction causes a rapid velocity change which creates the shock impulse. Different rubber or foam materials are used to create half sine shocks with different magnitude and durations.

Half sine shocks can be performed on Electro Dynamic (ED) Shakers, Drop Tables or Drop Towers or Pneumatic Shock Machines. For this particular shock, DES used its Drop Tower Shock Machine. This machine has large bungee cords to increase its capability.

The required velocity change for a 35G, 50 millisecond duration half sine shock is 430 inches per second. A typical free fall drop table shock machine is only capable of a maximum velocity change of approximately 260 inches per second. A free fall drop machine could not attain a 35G peak, 50 millisecond duration half sine shock.

The addition of large bungee cords is used to create higher shock table velocities. The bungees act like large rubber bands or springs pulling the table downward. Higher shock table velocities can also be used to create higher peak G levels.

The impact material (sometimes called the shock programmer) for the 35G, 50 millisecond duration half sine shock was various density foam rubber pieces that were a total of 10 inches thick. It is a dramatic shock, as seen in the video above. As our customer described it, we are moving the shock table at a very high velocity to hit a bunch of pillows!

A typical plot for this shock impulse is shown below. DES was able to easily obtain both the 35G peak and 50 millisecond duration.

What sets DES apart from other labs is our in-depth experience and technical capability to understand and reproduce the most complicated shock profiles. DES has tested to the most complex shock requirements on products that are used in outer space, rockets, missiles, military environments, etc.

The post Shock Testing: Long Duration Half Sine Shock appeared first on Delserro Engineering Solutions.