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Fundamentals of Vibration
for Test Applications

Course No. 116

(Course Outline shown below.)

Applications   Random vibration and shock are important in most engineering applications where the product is exposed to transportation and to possible vibration and shock during service. The need to understand the effects of vibration and shock on product reliability is paramount today, where electronic/computer components are part of almost every product.

For whom intended  Many engineers need specialized education to properly measure, quantify, and analyze this generally unfamiliar environment and to reproduce it in environmental test laboratories. This course is for test laboratory managers, engineers and technicians. It also helps quality and reliability specialists and acquisition personnel in government and military activities and their contractors. It is designed to serve the needs of personnel in a wide range of industries where equipment problems may be encountered during the shipment and use of their product.

The instructor maintains good balance between theory and practical applications. Instrumentation specialists who will measure transportation, service, and laboratory vibration need this course. Metrologists learn about vibration the use of sensors. Project personnel, structures and packaging engineers learn about developmental testing. Product assurance and acquisition specialists learn to evaluate test facilities and methods, and to interpret specifications.

Brief course description  This course covers a wide range of topics associated with vibration and shock applications in order to enable the course participants to acquire a basic understanding of the complex field of vibration and shock. Each of the subject areas covered in this course have expanded coverage in their own three day courses for those individuals who need a more thorough understanding for their application.

Lectures and videotaped physical demonstrations show, for example, how structures behave when mechanically excited, how to use pickups to sense input and response forces and motions, how to read out and evaluate the resulting electrical signals.

The course commences with an introduction to vibration and its effects and then proceeds to cover the basic theory needed to understand the material covered during the three days. While mathematics are kept to a minimum, it is necessary to cover a sufficient amount so that the concepts of vibration can be understood. The course presents some basic theory of data acquisition, electronic filters and measurement systems.

The theory of dynamics is covered, including the relationships between displacement, velocity and acceleration, and then the various types of vibration exciters are discussed. Random vibration theory and the concept of test fixtures and vibration measurement are discussed before proceeding to cover vibration testing, mechanical shock applications and environmental stress screening, as well as HALT and HASS applications.

Certificate Programs  This course is required for TTi’s Certificate Programs.

Prerequisites  There are no formal prerequisites for this course. Supervisors are invited to contact TTi on prospective attendees’ backgrounds and needs.

Text  Each student will receive a course workbook, including most of the viewgraphs used in the course presentation.

Course Hours, Certificate and CEUs  Open courses meet seven hours per day. Upcoming presentation dates can be found on our current open course schedule. Class hours/days for on-site courses can vary from 14-35 hours over 2-5 days as requested by our clients. Upon successful course completion, each participant receives a certificate of completion and one Continuing Education Unit (CEU) for every ten class hours.

Course Outline No. 116