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	SwRI engineers measure the in-service vibration environment, develop test protocols, and apply vibration control measures to ensure functionality of critical instrumentation.

Research, development, analysis, and testing services are offered by Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) to ensure the:

• Functionality

• Structural integrity

• Environmental compatibility

of systems and components subject to adverse dynamic operating environments, such as those in the:

• Transportation industry

• Aerospace industry

• Electronics industry

Over the years, SwRI has developed experience using both analytical and testing procedures to assess the performance of products under these dynamic environments. The testing experience has allowed us to ground our analytical techniques to develop validated models.

This also allows SwRI to propose modifications and test them using the models that have a high level of confidence of improved performance. The analytical process has taught us where to place sensors to get good data during testing and what types of testing will expose weakness.

	Electronics equipment undergoes dynamic testing in the high-frequency range while shaken on a horizontal axis on an SwRI uniaxial electromagnetic shaker system.

Structural Dynamics Capabilities

Structural dynamics capabilities include:

Dynamic Modeling

• Structural dynamic finite element modeling and simulations of vehicle platforms, civil structures, machines, and process equipment responses to shock and vibration during operation, accident, and natural catastrophes

• Assessment of component or system structural integrity as affected by dynamic loading

• Validation of analysis scenarios from test data

Dynamic Testing

• Simulation of in-service vibration and shock loading

• Multiaxial or uniaxial dynamic loading

• Shock testing using shakers, free-fall shock simulation, controlled impacts with programmers, crash testing, and simulated explosive loading

• Seismic simulations using shock response spectrum or specified time histories

• Unique instrumentation development for nonstandard experimental applications

System Response Measurement

• System dynamic response

• Structural impedance

• Component coupling characterization

• Development of elevated response spectra

• Failure mode identification

• Support for isolation of shock environment

• Data acquisition and advanced signal-processing techniques

For more information about our structural dynamics capabilities, or how you can contract with SwRI, please contact Daniel Pomerening at dpomerening@swri.org or (210) 522-2318.

structuraldynamics.swri.org

| Structural Engineering Department | Mechanical Engineering Division | SwRI Home |

Southwest Research Institute^® (SwRI^®), headquartered in San Antonio, Texas, is a multidisciplinary, independent, nonprofit, applied engineering and physical sciences research and development organization with 11 technical divisions.

January 03, 2013