Vibration Testing & Vibration Analysis

Vibration testing, vibration analysis and mechanical shock help attune automotive products for structural soundness and paramount vehicle perception using methods such as resonant searches and dwells, fixture resonance evaluation, custom fixture design and fabrication, reproduction of sample road and/or event data, shock response spectrum (SRS) testing, buzz, squeak, and rattle (BSR) testing and more.

Shaking Things Up with Vibration Testing Webinar | Top-11 FAQs of Vibration Testing

Our vibration testing labs across the U.S. — including Grand Rapids and Plymouth, Michigan; Cortland, New York; Lexington, Kentucky; and Boxborough, Massachusetts — come together to help Intertek offer automotive testing experience and expertise that is second to none. For example, electrodynamic (ED) shakers can be used for Accelerated Stress Testing (AST), Highly Accelerated Life Test (HALT) capabilities can be put into practice to arm products with ongoing reliability, and Failure Mode Verification Test (FMVT®) capabilities use an Intertek-patented resonance impact vibration pod in applications to uncover real-world failure modes to assist with reliability growth.

Additional capabilities include shock testing, vibration analysis, simulate environment chambers, data acquisition, custom test fixture controls and software, and more, helping you fill all your automotive testing and standard certification needs at one stop — Intertek.

Standards We Test To:

• GMW 3172
• GMW 3431
• GMW 8287
• GMW 15570
• GMW 3191
• GM 9123P
• Ford CETP 00.00-L-412
• Ford WCR 00.00EA-D11
• Chrysler PF-8982
• Toyota TSC7000G
• Nissan Design Specification 25100NDS00 [11]
• Hyundai/Kia Motor ES95400-10

Tests We Offer:

Vibration Testing

1. Resonant searches and dwells
2. Custom fixture design and fabrication
3. Fixture resonance evaluation
4. Combined vibration and environmental
5. Electrodynamic (ED) shakers can be used for Accelerated Stress Testing (AST)
6. Strain monitoring during vibration

Vibration Analysis

• Shaker type: Electrodynamic (ED)
• Vibration types: Sine, random, sine on random, random on random
• Axis: Single
• Stroke: Up to 3” pk-pk
• Force: Up to 25,000 lbf
• Acceleration: 227 Gpk bare table
• 92 Gpk to 160lbs
• 44 Gpk to 460lbs
• 27 Gpk to 800 lbs
• Velocity: 80 in/sec, 105 in/sec intermittently
• Payload: Up to 1000 lbs (higher for custom tests if able to mass balance)

Mechanical Shock Capabilities

• Shaker type: Electrodynamic (ED)
• Axis: Single
• Stroke: Up to 3” pk-pk
• Acceleration / duration: 330G/4ms to 50lbs
• 250G/6ms to 80lbs
• 135G/11ms to 100lbs
• 80G/15ms to 70lbs
• 50G/18ms to 500lbs
• Payload: Up to 1000 lbs (higher for custom tests if able to mass balance)

Drop Shock Capabilities

• Shock type: Half sine, sawtooth, trapezoid
• Acceleration/duration: 1000G/1 ms, 500G/2.5 ms, 200G/xx ms, 100G/xx ms, etc.
• Payload: Up to 1000 lbs

Vibration/Mechanical Shock Custom Capabilities

1. Sample road or event data and reproduce
2. Use of Fatigue damage spectrum (FDS) to accelerate vibration levels and reduce timing
3. Shock response spectrum (SRS) testing

Vibration Fixturing

Design:

1. Custom test fixture design (Solid Works)
2. Accept client data in native Solid Works, Parasolid, IGS or STP formats.
3. Finite Element Analysis (FEA) using Algor as required
4. Consider animation resonance examples
5. Consider project examples (RF cable bracket wind evaluation, neutered)

Fabrication:

1. Custom test fixture fabrication
2. Machining
3. Welding aluminum, steel, MIG, TIG
4. Easy access to CNC machining, laser, water jet, wire EDM cutting and powder coat painting

Test Sample Attachment:

• Vibration adapter plates utilize 3/8”-16 holes on 2” centers
• Plate sizes range from 12” x 12” up to 72” x 72”, with 24” x 24” being the most common

Highly Accelerated Life Test (HALT) Capabilities

• Ramp/soak programmable
• Table: Up to 4' x 4' surface
• Height: Up to 35"
• Temperature range: -80°C to 180°C typical, -100°C to 200°C intermittent
• Thermal ramp rate: Up to 50°C/minute
• Vibration type: Pneumatic air hammer quasi-random 6-axis
• Acceleration: 50G's rms below 3kHz, 70G's rms below 10kHz
• Frequency range: 100 - 10,000Hz

Failure Mode Verification Test (FMVT®) Capabilities

• FMVT® is a process that can be performed in many ways, frequently using an Intertek patented resonance impact vibration pod in applications to uncover real world failure modes to assist with reliability growth.
• Ramp/soak programmable
• Six axis FMVT vibration pod
• Chamber dimensions: 71" x 54" x 47" high
• Temperature range: -80°C to 180°C typical
• Thermal ramp rate: Up to 30°C/minute
• Acceleration: 50Gpk
• Frequency range: 1 - 10,000Hz

Other Capabilities:

Walk-in Chambers

• Simulated environmental chambers
• Ramp/soak programmable
• Many sizes up to 20’ x 9’ x 9’
• Temperature range:  -80°C to 177°C
• Humidity range: <10% to >95%RH
• Mechanical refrigeration and/or liquid nitrogen cooling
• Steam or aerated water mist humidity generation
• Mechanical refrigeration and / or desiccant dryer dehumidification

Water Test Cart

• Ramp / soak programmable
• Purpose: On demand supply of hot / cold water
• Type: Proportional valve dual heat exchanger operation
• Temperature range: 1°C to 210°C
• Flow rate: 10 GPM
• Applications: Controlled temperature water supply, accelerated stress testing

Infrared (IR) Sunload Heat Lamp Panel

• Proportionally regulated by surface temperature, black body or solar heat watt density
• Size: (2) 4' x 4' panels with 42 bulbs
• Power: 10,500 watts each
• Applications: Solar radiation simulation, elevated surface temperature for interior / exterior automotive assemblies (non-actinic effects)

Electrical Lab

• Electrical measurements (voltage, amperage, resistance)
• Dielectric (Hi-pot)
• Insulation resistance
• AC / DC power sources
• Small fixture electromechanical cycling
• PC and PLC based controls
• Custom test fixture controls and software
• Custom electrical testing set-up
• Data acquisition
• Strain gauging applications
• Parametric (performance) evaluation