Vibration
By Valerie Brooks
One of the best tests for quality when dealing with important equipment is the use of vibration, which includes shaking, shocking, or rocking certain components to ascertain how well they stand up during distressing conditions. Vibration test labs exist as a helpful measurement tool that provides proof of component quality, according to national and international standards, in a variety of applications.
Vibration Test Labs for Dummies
Vibration testing is a highly technical industry and can easily confuse the un-initiated. Choosing the best vibration testing equipment requires an understanding of the different types available. Recreating specific conditions in a lab will help determine what equipment works best. For example, scientists can simulate rough road conditions that are similar to what your equipment may experience during shipment. Other considerations include acceleration, velocity, and the product's characteristics and structure. Replicating the vibration requires a mechanical shaker system, which employs numerous technical devices for measurement.
Types of Vibration Testing Equipment
- Hydraulic vibration, typically used for larger loads and lower frequency testing (1-500 Hz)
- Electro-dynamic vibration, typically used for higher frequency testing (20-10,000Hz).
Within these two types of vibration testing methods, there are different types of testing techniques:
- Sinusoidal testing, the oldest type of vibration testing, usually used to test a component's sensitivity or resonance frequency, as well as its fatigue quotient. The object is exposed to a constant or slowly changing frequency.
- Random Testing, a system more sophisticated than random testing, it is typically used to simulate real-world conditions, such as transportation vibrations, seismic vibrations, and operating vibrations.
Questions to Ask
When evaluating a company's testing equipment, here are some helpful questions to ask:
- What is the dynamic range of the system used?
- In assessing the quality of the hardware components used in testing, what filters does the company use to prevent data contamination?
- What are the specifics on the functionality of the controller in use?
- How flexible is the controller? Can it adapt to specific requirements?
- What about the equipment's capability? How long after certain parameters are set will it take to run the test? Can these parameters be controlled?
- How versatile is the hardware? Can it perform multiple tests and analyses?
Vibration Testing Applications and Evaluating Test Labs
Vibration testing is performed on hundreds of areas that affect the average consumer, including computers, agricultural equipment, domestic appliances, traffic signals, and automobiles. As an employee in an industry that uses vibration test labs, using the above guidelines can help in choosing the right testing lab. Other issues to consider include:
- Researching the company's background and their engineers
- Viewing equipment reports
- Inquiring about whether testing must be done in their lab or if it can be performed at your site
- Finding out whether they offer technical consulting services to their clients.