Vibration design and testing of vehicle electronic systems

Vehicle electronic systems are subject to a series of vibration environments, manufacture, shipment, and operation. The first of these does not usually cause any problems but should not be ignored, the second is normally controlled by suitable protective packaging, such as plastic foam. When the protective packaging is removed the system lives in the `real world´, or operating environment, and is subjected to three primary disturbances: sinusoidal vibration, random vibration, and mechanical shock. Sinusoidal vibration is an environment that results from steady state periodic disturbances, such as generated by rotating devices. Random vibration may exist in-addition to sinusoidal and although it is in effect a series of transient disturbances it is perceived as being a `quasi´-steady state disturbance. Mechanical shock is a transient phenomena, usually resulting from an impact. The author discusses the factors to consider at the design phase to reduce this damage to the system, and then discusses vibration test procedures