sound & vibration testing
6 // Testing scenarios like
this quad-shaker setup
improve data quality with
the addition of a drivesignal
isolator to lower the
system noise floor (Photo:
ESA/ESTEC)
AEROSPACETESTINGINTERNATIONAL.COM // SHOWCASE 2020 83
tend to be quite stable. ln most cases, the
whole shaker is isolated from the floor by
means of rubber blocks or air bags, which
when positioned directly between the
floor and shaker body or between the
floor and trunnion frame, act to absorb
vibrations.
Larger systems, generally used for
testing larger payloads and for three axis
testing, usually require more. For the
larger systems, the shaker body will be
supported by an air spring isolation
suspension system mounted on the
trunnion. In this instance, as body
isolation is closer to the payload’s center of
gravity, the system is inherently more
stable. Systems used for shock testing and
low-frequency applications, requiring
maximum displacement, are generally
isolated by rigidly fixing the trunnion
mounted shaker to a seismic mass which
itself is mounted on air spring isolation.
This was handled in the past by, for
example, a V994 solid trunnion and a
seismic bloc, which was a potentially
expensive solution. The VTS Trunnionmounted
versions of the V994 can be
operated in either a vertical or horizontal
thrust axis. The vibrator body is isolated
from the trunnion supports (and thus from
the floor) by a Lin-E-Air suspension
system, which removes the need for a
seismic bloc. We are under full control
of the measurement chain and therefore
manage all interfaces in the setup
which means a huge risk reduction for
our customers.
FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS
Brüel & Kjær can provide our customers
with fast and reliable measurement
systems allowing swift decision-making
and ensuring that it is right the first time,
which greatly impacts the time to market.
Furthermore, global synchronized data
distribution capabilities allow our
worldwide-acting clients to improve their
processes and the optimized usage of their
limited human resources. Test lab time is
valuable – everybody needs access and
repeating tests is the most costly and
difficult thing to do.
Getting it right the first time is key to a
successful and streamlined test lab
schedule. To make it even better we are in
process of merging two successful
companies together in 2019. Hottinger
Baldwin Messtechnik (HBM) for static
GVT and Brüel & Kjaer for dynamic
measurements are merging into Hottinger
Brüel & Kjaer (HBK) and will soon provide
a total solution with one interface to the
aerospace testing and development world.
This will provide a great improvement in
the commonality for training, testing and
reporting out of one software platform. \\
6
/AEROSPACETESTINGINTERNATIONAL.COM