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Electrical Properties

Electromagnetic compatibility testing helps us to know to what degree a material is conductive, resistive, or insulating (nonconductive). Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) evaluates the electrical properties, shielding effectiveness, transmission loss, and reflection coefficients of materials for frequencies as high as 20 GHz. Active circuits and passive circuits – in whole buildings, enclosures, and systems – are tested according to:

• MIL-STD-285

• NSA 65-6

• MIL-R-770B

• ASTM D 3380

• ASTM D 1531

On-Site Consultation

Rapid-response consultations can be provided, and technical support for specific, on-site evaluations ranging from short tests to long-term projects requiring more extensive testing is also available to you. No test is too short or too long. SwRI has the diagnostic test equipment needed for fast, accurate, and cost-effective solutions to most of your EMC-related problems. With this expertise, Institute engineers can identify and remedy noncompliant conditions while at your facility.

Training

Even though your company may have trained and skilled engineers, they may not have a knowledge of EMC. If they do, it may be out of date or erroneous. SwRI offers classroom and laboratory training covering many aspects of EMC technology, either at SwRI or at your facility. Subjects include design, analyses, maintenance, test methodology, and standards interpretation.

SwRI will also assist architects and engineers in developing appropriate shielding, sensitive compartmented information facilities (SCIF), and RED/BLACK installations.

Systems Support

Complex systems and subsystems often require a multidisciplinary approach to testing. The Institute tests and evaluates systems for EMC, environmental, and other performance parameters, including MIL-STD-810, MIL-STD-461, MIL-STD-462, and FAA/RTCA DO-160. Additional multidisciplinary guidance and support are available from many of the SwRI technology groups, including:

• Environmental services

• Automotive (dynamometers, transmission test stands, whole-vehicle testing)

• Avionics

• Medical/bioengineering

• Space systems

• Geolocation/radio direction finding

Environmental Services

In addition to providing EMC services, the Institute simulates environments to pinpoint and solve operational problems. Environmental conditions that are impossible to otherwise recreate, such as earthquakes, can be simulated to determine their effects on systems and components. SwRI's range of environmental simulation services includes:

• Simulation of in-service vibration loading

• Seismic simulations using SwRI- or client-defined earthquake inputs

• Simulation of natural environments

• System dynamic response characterization

• Vibroacoustic system simulation services

• Validation of analysis scenarios from model data

• Validation of telecommunications equipment according to specific standards, for example, Telcordia TR-NWT-000063, Issue 4 NEBS.

The Electromagnetic Compatibility Research (EMCR) Section of SwRI is accredited for ISO/IEC 17025, "General Requirements for the Competence of Calibration and Testing Laboratories" for EMC analyses, design, and testing.

For more information about electromagnetic compatibility capabilities at SwRI or how you can contract with SwRI, please contact Jenny Ferren at jferren@swri.org or (210) 522-2329.  We can offer you insights about how to specify the best approach to solving your EMC problem.

| Structural and Mechanical Engineering Department | Mechanical & Materials 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.

June 26, 2008