TABLE OF CONTENTS This chapter covers the development of shock and vibration test criteria for mechanical, electrical, electronic, or hydraulically powered equipment, for example, an alternator for an automobile or an electronic instrument for an airplane. The emphasis throughout is on the selection of test criteria rather than the formulation of design criteria, but specified shock and vibration test levels and durations are commonly used as design criteria as well. Following a brief overview of environmental specifications, this chapter presents (1) a summary of the descriptions of shock and vibration environments used to establish test criteria, (2) a discussion of the different types of tests used to achieve various objectives, (3) procedures to select shock and vibration test levels, (4) procedures to select vibration test durations, and (5) general testing considerations.
An environmental specification is a written document that details the environmental conditions under which an item of equipment to be purchased must operate during its service life. Several contracting agencies of the U.S. government and various professional societies issue general environmental specifications for particular classes of equipment (see Chap. 19), but deviations from the specified environmental conditions in such documents are permitted when more appropriate conditions can be established by direct measurements or predictions of the environments of concern. An environmental test specification is a written document that details the specific criteria for an environmental test, as well as other matters such as the preparation of the test item, identification of all test equipment...
