Package Vibration Testing and Shock Testing

Smithers Pira has always been at the forefront when it comes to utilizing vibration testing and shock testing to challenge packaged products.

• Smithers Pira started leveraging sine sweep, resonance frequency searches and dwell testing methods over 30 years ago
• During the 1990s Smithers Pira advanced in to broadband random Power Spectral Density (PSD) vibration testing in order to better simulate the real life environment
• Since the 1990s Smithers Pira has continued to invest in state of the art vibration controllers, with programmable spectrum capability and programmable shock testing capability in both vertical and horizontal axes
• The latest controller in Smithers Pira's UK laboratory purchased in 2009 is enabled with time replication and mixed mode capability, and a facility to modulate overall Grms throughout the test sequence (in order to reproduce the non-continuous nature of true real life vibration).

The shock testing and vibration testing experience that Smithers Pira brings to the packaging industry is transformed to client value every day.

Currently broadband random vibration testing is most common within the packaging testing community. Smithers Pira has detailed understanding of time compression methods used for broadband random vibration profiles, and extensive knowledge on appropriately managing test intensity so that lab conditions reproduce damage where it is likely to occur in real life, but without introducing unrealistic damage mechanisms.

Time compression and effective selection of test intensity are critical factors and require careful understanding. Without sound knowledge in this area, field damage can be overlooked (if testing is not sufficiently vigorous to represent real life conditions), or laboratory vibration testing can be too severe causing 'false negatives' (which could lead to costly counter measures that may not be necessary in real life).