Experimental Evaluation of Techniques Designed to Reduce Vibration Simulation Test Time

Abstract

Performing accurate vehicle vibration simulations is imperative to understanding the adequacy of a packaged product's ability to withstand the rigors of transportation. Over the past several years, various vehicle vibration analysis techniques have been proposed in order to provide better correlation to actual field shipments. Some of these new techniques allow for the vibration data collected to be analyzed in a manner that reduces the duration of the laboratory vibration simulation. This paper discusses the discoveries made when an independent laboratory utilized these techniques to reduce test durations for vertical vibration simulation. A field data recorder was employed to collect and record over-the-road vibration of a fully loaded steel spring truck traveling over interstates and highways. The collected data was analyzed independently for each of the different simulation techniques and the resulting simulations were conducted using a servo-hydraulic vibration table. This paper is unique in it evaluates the simulation techniques using actual packaged products, and by use of a damage assessment tool, determines how well the techniques correlated with actual field study results. The three packaged products used for these evaluations were as follows: top-mount refrigerator, electric hedge trimmer, and gas powered pressure washer. Results indicate it is possible to reduce the vibration test durations during vertical vibration simulation, while still correlating with results collected from field studies.