Vibration testing subjects hardware to controlled dynamic loads to assess how products, assemblies, and space systems perform under launch, transportation, operational, and service environments.
Random vibration: Replicates broadband vibration across a defined frequency range and is commonly used to represent launch, transport, and operational conditions.
Sine vibration: Supports resonance identification, swept sine testing, dwell testing, and controlled frequency excitation.
Mixed-mode testing and complex profiles: Integrates multiple operating and loading conditions within a single test programme to assess system performance and durability. Typical examples include sine-on-random vibration, windmilling conditions, fan-blade-out events, and gunfire-induced loading environments.
Packaging testing to ASTM and ISTA: Confirms product performance and packaging integrity in representative transport and operating conditions.
Response monitoring: Employs accelerometers and agreed measurement channels to assess control and response behaviour during an agreed vibration profile or dwell frequency.
Fixture and mounting review: Verifies that the test article is securely mounted and excited through the intended interfaces and axes.
Evidence generation: Delivers data, plots, observations, and reports to support qualification, validation, and development programmes.
Whether you are validating an engineering model, preparing for qualification, planning acceptance testing or investigating a field issue, an early engineering review can help identify the most practical route through random, sine or combined environmental vibration testing.
Share your hardware description, vibration profile, standard, fixture assumptions, mass properties, axis requirements, instrumentation needs and programme objectives. Resonate Testing can review setup, monitoring and reporting expectations before quotation.
Qualification and acceptance testing support
Random vibration, sine vibration and response monitoring
Standards and customer requirement review
Integrated vibration, shock and temperature campaign planning
Resonate provides vibration testing services for space, aerospace, defence, automotive, energy, electronics and advanced engineering programmes. Our UK and Ireland vibration testing capability supports qualification, validation, troubleshooting and compliance work through engineer-led planning, fixture review, instrumentation support and clear reporting.
Vibration testing is usually defined by the product, customer requirement and operating environment. Programmes may reference MIL-STD-810, IEC 60068-2-6, IEC 60068-2-64, RTCA DO-160, ISO 16750, ECSS or customer-specific documentation.
The objective is not simply to run a shaker. The objective is to generate evidence that is relevant to the hardware, environment and acceptance process. Frequency range, power spectral density (PSD) or sine level, duration, axes, tolerances, notching, abort criteria, fixture approach and reporting requirements are therefore reviewed before testing begins.
Vibration testing campaigns are typically tailored from programme requirements rather than a single prescribed method. Standards and guidance documents help define profile severity, control strategy, monitoring expectations, reporting structure and evidence required for qualification or acceptance activities.
Early review of applicable standards can reduce rework, improve traceability and help ensure the resulting test evidence aligns with stakeholder expectations.
Vibration testing is used across multiple sectors to understand how hardware responds to dynamic loads before deployment, qualification, customer acceptance or operational use. While vibration environments differ between industries, the objective remains consistent: generate evidence that products can withstand the mechanical conditions they are expected to experience throughout their lifecycle. Testing is often performed against industry, customer or programme-specific requirements, including recognised standards where applicable.
Satellites, CubeSats, space payloads, launcher hardware, avionics and space systems are commonly assessed against launch-related vibration environments. Testing helps engineering teams evaluate structural integrity, mounting interfaces, electronics, deployable systems and mission-critical assemblies before progressing through qualification or acceptance activities. Representative standards and guidance may include ECSS-E-ST-10-03 environmental testing requirements, NASA General Environmental Verification Standards (GEVS) and programme-specific launch provider requirements. Sine burst and
Aerospace hardware may be exposed to vibration during flight, ground operations, transportation and service life. Vibration testing supports the assessment of airborne equipment, avionics, brackets, electronics, structural assemblies and customer-specific aerospace programmes where reliability and traceability are important requirements. Representative standards may include RTCA DO-160 environmental conditions and test procedures for airborne equipment, alongside customer and airframe manufacturer specifications. High force and small slip table shakers can be used to provide high acceleration vibration profiles and complex simulations to replicated fan-blade out events, windmilling, gun-fire profiles and many more.
Military and defence systems often operate in demanding environments where vibration, shock and mechanical loading can influence performance. Testing can support ruggedised electronics, vehicle-mounted equipment, communications systems, sensors and defence assemblies evaluated against programme-specific requirements or recognised standards. Commonly referenced standards include MIL-STD-810 environmental engineering considerations and laboratory test methods, as well as defence customer-specific qualification requirements.
Electronic assemblies, control units, power systems, sensors and instrumentation can be vulnerable to connector failures, fatigue, mounting weaknesses and intermittent faults when exposed to vibration. Development and validation testing helps identify potential issues before production, installation or customer release, supporting product reliability and compliance with relevant industry standards such as IEC 60068-2-6, IEC 60068-2-64 and MIL-STD-810 where applicable.
Battery systems, energy storage technologies, power electronics, power generation components and supporting infrastructure may experience vibration during transportation, installation and operational service. Vibration testing enables teams to evaluate durability, mounting strategies, electrical performance and overall robustness, helping to verify suitability for deployment in demanding environments. Testing can be performed in alignment with relevant industry standards and application-specific requirements, including standards such as IEC 60068 for environmental testing, ISO 16750 for electrical and electronic equipment in road vehicles, and other sector-specific vibration and durability standards where applicable.
Automotive components, EV battery systems, electronics, sensors and transportation assemblies are routinely subjected to vibration from road, vehicle and operational environments. Vibration testing is used to assess durability, structural integrity and functional performance throughout development and validation programmes. Testing is typically conducted in accordance with relevant international, industry and customer-specific requirements, including ISO 16750, SAE specifications, UN transportation regulations (UN38.3), and, where applicable, UNECE regulations such as R100 and R136, along with other applicable standards governing electric vehicle and battery system safety, performance and transport.
Medical equipment, diagnostic instruments, patient monitoring systems, laboratory devices and portable healthcare technologies may be subjected to vibration during transportation, storage, handling, installation and operational use. Vibration testing enables engineering teams to evaluate structural integrity, component durability, mounting effectiveness and functional performance under representative conditions, helping to identify potential mechanical weaknesses prior to deployment. Testing can be performed in accordance with applicable industry standards and regulatory requirements, including IEC 60068-2-6, IEC 60068-2-64, ASTM D4169 and ISTA transportation test protocols. Where applicable, vibration testing can also support compliance activities associated with IEC 60601 requirements for the safety and essential performance of medical electrical equipment, alongside customer-specific specifications. These assessments support product verification and validation activities, risk reduction, regulatory compliance and overall product quality objectives.
Many products are exposed to vibration and environmental stresses simultaneously rather than separately. Combined vibration and environmental testing, often called shake and bake testing, enables engineers to apply controlled vibration alongside temperature or humidity conditions to better represent operating, transportation and mission environments.
This method is commonly used when hardware experiences vibration during temperature extremes, thermal cycling, humidity exposure or extended operation.
Combining conditions within a single programme allows teams to assess structures, electrical performance, materials, connectors and assemblies under more realistic conditions while supporting development, qualification, validation and reliability activities.
Random vibration with temperature exposure
Sine vibration with thermal cycling
Combined vibration and humidity testing
Endurance testing under environmental conditions
Functional operation during vibration and environmental exposure
Integrated environmental, shock and vibration campaigns
Automotive components and electric vehicle batteries and systems are often exposed to simultaneous vibration, temperature variation and environmental stresses throughout transportation and operational service. Combined testing can support the assessment of EV battery systems, battery modules, power electronics, sensors, control units, connectors and vehicle-mounted assemblies under representative operating conditions. Programmes may be aligned to customer requirements or recognised automotive standards such as ISO 16750 where applicable, helping engineering teams evaluate durability, functional performance and environmental robustness before validation, qualification or production release.
Plan: Review the requirement, standards, acceptance criteria, safety considerations and success measures. Confirm the delivery of test specimens, witnessing requirements and test schedule.
Prepare: Confirm fixtures, mounting interfaces, axis definitions, instrumentation, telemetry and functional checks.
Mount and instrument: Install the hardware on the agreed fixture, connect agreed channels and verify the setup before testing.
Set up control: Confirm shaker control, accelerometer locations, limits, notching rules and abort criteria.
Run the profile: Complete the agreed random, sine, resonance search or dwell testing in the required axes.
Functional checks: Power, inspect or operate the hardware at defined points when this is part of the agreed plan.
Review and report: Check achieved conditions, observations, plots, photographs and agreed outputs.
Test specimen information
Dimensions, drawings, centre of gravity and mounting details
Mass, handling restrictions, and fixture or adapter needs
Vibration test standard, profile, and qualification level
Frequency range and test levels
Test axes, durations, and sequence
Instrumentation requirements and functional checks
Safety details for batteries, pressure vessels, hazardous materials, or stored energy components
Fixture constraints, resonance limits, and notching requirements
Reporting requirements
Photos, data outputs, and witness requirements
Repeatedly moving the test item between defined hot and cold temperatures to reveal issues such as expansion, contraction, fatigue or changing operating conditions.
Please note that our capabilities are subject to technical review, equipment availability, fixture suitability, safety assessment, and confirmation of the applicable accredited scope. We encourage you to discuss your specific requirements with us, as we can often identify innovative solutions for tests that may otherwise fall outside our current capabilities.
| System | Force / displacement | Working area | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 kN | 10 kN sine/random; 20 kN shock; 51 mm | 400 mm vertical; 600 x 600 mm horizontal | Small assemblies and electronics. |
| 27 kN | 26.7 kN sine; 25.6 kN random; 53.4 kN shock; 25 mm | 550 x 850 mm | Mid-size assemblies. |
| 40 kN | 39.2 kN sine/random; 78.4 kN shock; 51 mm | 700 x 700 mm | Larger components. |
| 54 kN | 54 kN sine/random; 112 kN shock; 100 mm | 600 x 600 mm; 5 to 2600 Hz | High force and displacement. |
| 70 kN | 70 kN sine/random; 140 kN shock; 76 mm | 1000 x 1000 mm; optional 1800 x 1800 mm vertical | Large EV batteries; up to 2 tonnes subject to configuration. |
Whether you’re looking to switch accountants, need advice on a specific issue, or simply want to explore what’s possible — we’d love to hear from you.
