Shock & Vibration Response Spectra & Software Training

I am offering another Shock & Vibration course.  The next course date is February 26-28, 2013 in Huntsville, Alabama. Location:  Best Western Plus Madison – Huntsville Hotel 9035 Madison Blvd, Hwy 20 West, Madison, AL 35824 (Formerly The Inn at Madison) Students receive software &… Read more

Modal Transient Analysis of a Beam with Enforced Motion via a Ramp Invariant Digital Recursive Filtering Relationship

These Matlab scripts calculate the natural frequencies of a beam via the finite element method:  beam_base_accel_fea.zip They also have options for base excitation: 1. frequency response function 2. half-sine base input 3. arbitrary base input A ramp invariant digital recursive relationship is used for the… Read more

HALT Testing

Question from one of my readers If equipment is normally isolated in service, should HALT vibration testing be performed with or without isolators since the intent of this testing is to find operational and structural limits regardless of the real environment. Answer from Steve Brenner… Read more

Damping Value Conversion Calculator

Here is a Matlab GUI script which converts between various damping metrics:  damping.zip The supported metric include: quality factor Q fraction of critical damping [zeta] loss factor [eta] 3 dB Bandwidth [delta omega] 3 dB Bandwidth [delta f] damping frequency [fd] decay constant [sigma] time… Read more

Spring-Mass System Natural Frequency

Here is a Matlab GUI script for calculating the natural frequency of a spring-mass system:  sdof_fn.zip It can also be used to select total isolator stiffness for a given mass and intended natural frequency. It is version 1.1, so please let me know if there… Read more

Pyrotechnic Shock Joint Attenuation

Question NASA-STD-7003A states wrt joint attenuation predictions that “….up to a maximum of three joints….” be used. I realize this maximum of 3-joint attenuation has been typically utilized in the industry. Does anyone know the basis behind this guideline (i.e. what’s the history and/or data… Read more

Pink Noise Generator

Two random signals of particular interest are white noise and pink noise. White noise is a random signal which has a constant power spectrum for a constant frequency bandwidth. It is thus analogous to white light, which is composed of a continuous spectrum of colours.… Read more