Development of a Multi-axis Transport Vibration Test

Random vibration based on PSD (Power Spectral Density) profiles has been widely accepted as good approach for packaging transport testing over the last decades. However, nowadays the cost and environmental impact reduction objectives are demanding for a higher level of optimization in the packaging design, which implies the development of a new level of vibration tests approaches. In spite of the research works available in the subject, there are still more than a few open points in order to properly reproduce in the laboratory a statistically meaningful test representing many possible non-stationary non-Gaussian vibration scenarios. Obviously, the situation is even more complex dealing with accelerated or multiaxis tests. The present work describes the methodology used for a packaging vibration test development considering 6 degrees of freedom (X, Y, Z, Pitch, Roll and Yaw). It starts with a route characterization by means of a transport recorder mounted in three different trips. The results obtained are processed and analyzed in terms of PSD and PDF (Probability Distribution Function) for every degree of freedom. With the outcome of the signal processing phase and on the basis of cycle counting and the Palgrem-Miner rule, a condensed test is proposed following a time replication strategy. Finally the proposed test is validated in the laboratory by comparing the performance of different packaging references.