Sinusoidal and Random Vibration Testing Primer

Posted on April 9, 2013 by DES

The most common types of vibration testing services conducted by vibration test labs are Sinusoidal and
Random. This primer is an explanation of the typical requirements found in vibration test specifications
and the parameters used to control the vibration tests. Both types of vibration tests are used to
evaluate products for ruggedness, durability and to expose vibration defects.

See Sinusoidal Vibration Basics to learn more about vibration fundamentals.

See Sinusoidal Vibration Testing to learn more about the different types of sinusoidal vibration testing.

Examples of vibration test videos can be found on our YouTube page.

Sinusoidal or Sine Vibration Testing

Sinusoidal or Sine Vibration has the shape of a sine wave as seen in Figure 1. The parameters used to
define sinusoidal vibration testing are amplitude (usually acceleration or displacement), frequency,
sweep rate and number of sweeps.

Figure 1. Sinusoidal Vibration Wave Form

A typical sinusoidal vibration test profile is shown in Figure 2. The amplitude is defined over a range of
frequencies. The amplitude can be constant or variable. During a sine vibration test, the vibration wave
forms are swept through a range of frequencies, however they are of discrete amplitude, frequency and
phase at any instant in time. An important note is that the displacement increases as the frequency
decreases for a given acceleration. At low frequencies, the displacement could exceed the limits of the
test equipment. That is why some specifications use displacement for amplitude in the low frequency
range.

Figure 2. Typical Sinusoidal Vibration Test Profile from MIL-STD-810G

Sine vibration is not usually found in the real world unless your product is attached to equipment such
as a motor or reciprocating compressor running at a fixed frequency. Why is it done? It is good to find
resonances (amplitude magnification in the device under test), it is a simple motion and it also produces
a constant acceleration vs. frequency. Also, it is probably carried over from old test methods prior to
digital computer controllers. However sine vibration does not correlate to a field life unless the product
is exposed only to fixed frequencies over its life.

Some parameters and definitions of a sine vibration test are:

Amplitude: The amplitude for a sine vibration test is usually specified as displacement or
acceleration. In DES’s experience, velocity is rarely used in a specification. As seen in Figure 1,
amplitude can be expressed as peak or peak-to-peak. When displacement is used to define amplitude, it
is defined in either peak units of inSA (mmSA) or peak-to-peak units of inDA (mmDA). SA stands for
Single Amplitude (peak) and DA stands for Double Amplitude (peak-to-peak). When acceleration is used
to define amplitude, its units are usually G’s or millimeter per second squared (mm/sec^2) or meter per
second squared (m/sec^2).

Frequency: Frequency is defined as cycles per second. Its’ units are Hertz (Hz). Frequency is equal to
the reciprocal of the period.
G: One G is equal to the acceleration produced by earth’s gravity and is equal to 386.1 inches/sec^2 or
9.8 m/sec^2.

Octave: The interval between one frequency and another differing by 2:1.

Period: The time it takes to complete 1 cycle. Its’ units are seconds. Period is not typically used in the
definition of a sine test. It is listed here because of its relation to frequency. Period is the reciprocal of
the frequency.

Resonance: A frequency at which an amplitude magnification occurs in the device under test when
compared to the vibration table amplitude. Usually a resonance is defined as a 2:1 or greater
magnification.

Sweep and Sweep Cycles: A sweep is defined as a traverse from one frequency to another. A sweep
cycle varies from one frequency to another and then back to the staring frequency. For instance in
Figure 2, a sweep could be a traverse from either 5 to 500 Hz or from 500 to 5 Hz. A sweep cycle would
traverse from 5 Hz to 500 Hz, then traverse back to 5 Hz. Some specifications require sweeps while
others require sweep cycles which causes confusion.

Sweep Rate: The rate at which the frequency range is traversed. The units for sweep rate are usually
Octave/minute or Hz/minute. Octave per minute is a logarithmic sweep rate while Hz/minute is a linear
sweep rate.

Random Vibration Testing

Random Vibration is a varying waveform. It’s intensity is defined using a Power Spectral Density (PSD)
spectrum. Whereas sinusoidal vibration occurs at distinct frequencies, random vibration contains all
frequencies simultaneously. Also phase changes occur over time with random vibration. Sine and
random vibration testing cannot be equated.

Real world vibrations are usually of the random type. Vibrations from automobiles, aircraft, rockets are
all random. A random vibration test can be correlated to a service life if the field vibrations are
known. Since random vibration contains all frequencies simultaneously, all product resonances will be
excited simultaneously which could be worse than exciting them individually as in sine testing.

A typical random vibration test PSD is shown in Figure 3. The PSD is defined over a range of
frequencies. The square root of the area under the PSD curves yields the Grms. Specifying Grms only is
not sufficient because a wide variety of spectra can result in the same Grms.
Figure 3. Typical Random Vibration Profile from MIL-STD-810G

Some parameters and definitions of a random vibration test are:

Averages: Since random vibration constantly changes over time (that is why it is called random), the
controller takes samples or snap shots of the vibration data over time. Successive samples are
averaged. The averaging occurs in each band of resolution.

Average Weighting Factor: An exponential weighting factor that defines how fast the controller reacts
to changes. The controller reacts faster for small weighting factors vs. slower for larger weighting
factors.

Statistical Degrees Of Freedom (SDOF): The number of independent values (measurements) used to
obtain a PSD estimate at a particular frequency. A higher SDOF means that more measurements are
taken.

 For a measurement channel, SDOF = 2*K,

 For control channels, SDOF = 2*K*(2*N – 1) * n.

 K = Number of averages per control loop

 N = Averaging weighting factor

 n = Number of control channels

Grms: Grms is used to define the overall energy or acceleration level of random vibration. Grms (root-
mean-square) is calculated by taking the square root of the area under the PSD curve.

Kurtosis: Fourth moment of the Probability Density Function (PDF). It measures the high G content of
the signal. The kurtosis of a Gaussian PDF is 3.

Number of Lines: The frequency range of the test divided by the band resolution equals the Number of
Lines. The vibration controller or spectrum analyzer will perform its calculations for each narrow band.

Open Loop/Closed Loop: Closed loop means the controller will continuously adjust the drive signal to
account for changes in the response of the device under test that are fed back from the control
accelerometers. Open loop means the drive signal will be fixed or the controller will stop adjusting the
drive signal regardless of changes in the response of the device under test.

PDF: A statistical Probability Density Function. A histogram showing the probability of occurrence and
the distribution of data.

Power Spectral Density (PSD) or Acceleration Spectral Density (ASD): Defines the intensity of the
random vibration signal vs. frequency. Its units are usually G^2/Hz or (m/s^2)^2/Hz.

Sigma (σ) & Sigma Clipping: Sigma is the standard deviation of a statistical PDF. A Gaussian PDF
distribution is assumed for random vibration which takes the shape of a bell shaped curve. Since the
amplitude or intensity of the random vibration will change over time, the time spent at different
amplitude excursions is measured using a PDF. Figure 4 shows a Gaussian PDF. The vertical axis would
be 1/G, the horizontal axis would be sigma and µ is the mean which is equal to zero for a shaker
control. For a Gaussian distribution, 68.2% of the peak G excursions occur between ± 1 sigma, 95.4%
between ± 2 sigma, 99.7% between ± 3 sigma.

Figure 4. Gaussian PDF

Vibration controllers allow you to clip peak amplitude excursions using Sigma Clipping. Many
specifications allow the clipping to be set at ± 3 sigma.

Frequency, G, octave, period and resonance are the same as defined under sinusoidal testing.

For more information on Vibration Shock Testing or other testing services contact DES or
call 610.253.6637.