A simulation study of test fixture attachment points for vibration test optimization (MEEN 5440 Final Project)

Abstract

The aerospace industry uses vibration shaker tables to perform component durability testing. These dynamic environments tests often have a hard time replicating the service environment of a component due to a mismatch in the applied force or the boundary condition. Figure 1 shows the desired outcome of a dynamic environments test. The measured responses in a lab test, ideally, should match the measured response of the service environment field test. One way to address the mismatch between field environment and lab environment is with test fixture design. The test fixture attaches the component under test to the shaker table. Single-axis shakers are the industry standard type of shaker table, and, therefore, test fixtures are often rigid in order to minimize cross-axis responses.