Accurate impact testing is a key component to establishing that a product is not only reliable, but durable in an end-use environment. when testing a high-g circuit board to demonstrate component durability and ruggedization for guided munitions. Before and after testing, electrical and physical connectivity of the test vehicle was assessed using electrical resistance path measurements and x-ray imaging. A change in resistance within the electrical path indicates partial failure in at least one component in the chain, at which point individual segments of the board can be isolated to determine the source of the failure.
The amplitude and duration of the shock pulse waveform is optimized through adjustment of cushioning pads and the braking mechanism of the system. This calibration, along with data capture triggering, is critical for successful testing, particularly for the potentially destructive sample testing at high-g values. Cushioning pads of a variety of thickness and hardness values are used to effectively dampen the impact, with the goal of optimizing the time duration of peak impact as well as reduce additional oscillation intensity.
During an acceleration event, the seismic mass imposes a force on the crystal following Newton’s second law of motion (Force = mass * acceleration). Through the piezoelectric effect, the crystal responds to the increased force with an increased voltage proportional to the acceleration experienced. Custom fixturing can be designed to position test vehicles of a variety of sizes within a 9" x 9" footprint and along all three axes of orientation.
