Multi-Axis Vibration Testing plays a pivotal role in evaluating the durability and reliability of products during the development process. It is particularly indispensable in industries like automotive, aerospace, electronics, and more. This intricate testing method involves subjecting products or components to simultaneous vibrations in various directions, effectively mimicking real-world conditions.
Incorporating a sophisticated approach, multi-axis vibration testing encompasses the application of concurrent vibrations along multiple axes. This comprehensive testing procedure utilizes a linear shaker to induce vibrations in the X, Y, and Z axes of the product. The sample is rotated between each axis in consecutive test cycles, enhancing the accuracy of the assessment.
Multi-axis vibration testing is the name given to a complex testing method whereby a sample is shaken (or excited) along more than one axis. Multi-axis vibration testing is performed by applying a single-axis vibration to a sample along the X, Y and Z axes of the product. These tests are performed using a linear shaker and rotating the sample onto the following axis after each round.
The three-axis test reduces traditional testing times by two-thirds and replicates real-world vibration environments.
Automated multi-axis tests are performed by replicating field data or through the use of a random vibration profile based on the analysis of field data with some time compression.
Traditionally, vibration testing requires single-axis systems, using a linear vibration shaker system and testing in one direction, subsequently rotating the sample and testing it in another direction.
As such, some examples of single-axis tests include:
However, research in this field has proven that real vibration environments are characterized by multi-axis motions. This is where multi-axis vibration testing comes in, to attain simulations that can replicate the real-world conditions that a product will have to face.
Multi-axis vibration testing shakes the sample along multiple axes. It is therefore a more complex test, both due to the number of elements involved, and due to the axes along which the shaking takes place. Naturally, these tests are much more effective when obtaining results that are closer to real-world conditions.
Some examples of multi-axis vibration testing include:
When applied to the transportation environment and the simulation of product + packaging systems, there are two types of multi-axis vibration testing:
In this case, three shakers are used to vibrate a sample along the X, Y and Z axes simultaneously, using random vibrations.
This is a more realistic multi-axis vibration testing than the vibrations in single-axis systems, and it is mainly used to test components and secondary systems.
The Six Degrees of Freedom or 6-DoF system adds the three directions of rotational motions (pitch, roll and yaw) to three axis testing (X, Y, Z).
This allows for several configurations, more closely replicating motions in real settings.
The performance of multi-axis vibration testing is a complex process where certain incidents may take place. These include:
In order to prevent these issues, it is essential to count with reliable vibration systems in combination with staff that has the necessary experience in the field of multi-axis vibration testing.
Multi-axis vibration testing is used in a wide range of sectors, including packaging, transportation, automotive, aeronautics, security, structural testing, seismic testing, etc.
Its advantages when compared to a single-axis system are twofold:
The main benefit of multi-axis vibration testing is that it enables companies to obtain results from several individual tests combined into a single test. In this way, it shortens the times that are necessary to test and verify products.
The real conditions involve multi-axis movements, which means that multi-axis vibration testing is the most accurate simulation to simulate more realistic vibration environments.
This means that a product could pass a test on a single-axis vibration testing table, but fail tests on a multiple axis one, since the latter are closer to real conditions.
The scientific literature on the subject quoted by ISTA asserts the claim that a multi-axis vibration system can better simulate real vibration environments: Batt (2010) claims that the vertical axis is not always the main contributor to the general motion of a vehicle; Rouillard (2013) proves that pitch & roll motions can be just as damaging as vertical vibrations; and Shires (2014) asserts that multi-axis vibration testing can generate responses that cannot be foreseen through the use of single-axis systems.
