Vibration and Shock Testing for Aerospace Applications

In aerospace and defense applications, environmental testing is a critical step in the development process to verify and validate the robustness of a component or system design. Aerospace systems operate in some of the harshest environments, making rigorous testing essential to maintain safety and reliability.

Why is Environmental Testing Important?
Aerospace systems operate in some of the harshest environments imaginable—high altitude, rapid acceleration, and violent dynamic forces during launch or flight. Environmental testing ensures that components can withstand these extremes without compromising safety or mission success.
Vibration testing replicates the stresses of real-world conditions by shaking equipment along multiple axes while it remains operational. This process uncovers hidden vulnerabilities such as loosened screws, structural cracks, or subtle shifts in performance that could lead to catastrophic failure if left unchecked. By identifying these issues early, engineers can validate design integrity and strengthen weak points before deployment.

How is vibration and shock testing performed?
Vibration testing is performed on specialized testing tables that simulate real-world stresses that the equipment would face. Equipment is vigorously shaken on all three perpendicular axes (X, Y, and Z directions) to fully qualify a part. During these tests, the unit is usually operational, so that any performance issues or failures can be observed in real time. By the end of vibration and shock testing, engineers can judge if the design is robust or if something worked loose, cracked, or failed internally from the punishment. Similarly, shock testing simulates a short burst of force to the component.

PDT's Capabilities
PDT has various fluid, thermal, and pressure testing capabilities and has recently invested in bringing significant vibration and shock testing capabilities in house by constructing our own on-site vibration lab.