Intermittent Opens in Electrical Contacts Caused by Mechanically Induced Contact Motion

Shock and vibration have been known to induce contact motion in electrical connectors and thereby cause failures or intermittent disturbances. This paper provides a theoretical analysis of the possibility of obtaining intermittent opens or high resistance caused by mechanically induced contact motion. Intermittent disturbances having time durations of less than one nanosecond are considered. Five possible mechanisms of creating intermit:ent opens are considered. They are: 1. Contact bounce 2. Contact sliding over surface irregularities 3. Contact sliding onto an insulating particle 4. Particle migration through contact area 5. Particle initially in the contact zone. Each possible mechanism is developed fully anc the important parameters are explored. Two actual connectors are evaluated for the possibility of obtaining intermittent opens for each of the five cases. The results of the evaluation are presented in this paper.