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MIL-STD 810 Acceleration Testing

Constant acceleration tests are performed to ensure that material can structurally withstand steady state inertia loads. These are induced by platform acceleration, deceleration, and maneuver in the service environment. Material must be able to function without degradation during and following exposure to these forces.

Acceleration tests aids in determining if material will become hazardous after exposure to crash inertia loads. This method is best for material installed in aircraft, helicopters, manned aerospace vehicles, air- carried stores, and ground/sea-launched missiles.

Keystone Compliance is a reliability life testing lab with significant experience in MIL-STD-810 acceleration testing. Our test engineers have an in-depth knowledge of military life testing and reliability testing for commercial, military, and aerospace products. This includes knowledge of MIL-STD 810H acceleration and MIL-STD 810G acceleration.

The following information is extremely technical in nature. It provides a summary of Method 513.8 acceleration as derived from the MIL-STD 810 acceleration section. Even though the language is from MIL-810 acceleration, it applies previous versions of the standard. This includes MIL-810G acceleration and MIL-810H acceleration testing.

What Are The Effects of Constant Acceleration Testing?

Acceleration effects loads on mounting hardware and internal loads within material. All elements of the materials are loaded, including fluids. The following is a partial list of potentially detrimental effects from high levels of acceleration. If there is an expectation that any of these may occur, material should be sent to an acceleration testing lab.

  • Structural deflections that may interfere with material operation.
  • Permanent deformation, structural cracks, and fractures that disable or destroy material.
  • Broken fasteners and supports that result in loose parts within material.
  • Broken mounting hardware that results in loose material within a platform.
  • Electronic circuit boards that short out and circuits that open up.
  • Inductances and capacitances that change value.
  • Relays that open or close.
  • Actuators and other mechanisms that bind.
  • Seals that leak.
  • Pressure and flow regulators that change value.
  • Pumps that cavitate.
  • Spools in servo valves that are displaced causing erratic and dangerous control system response.

What Considerations Are Important For Choosing the Best Military Acceleration Testing Procedure?

Most material in the acceleration test lab is subject to Procedure I and II, unless otherwise specified. Only aircraft material that is located in occupied areas or in egress and ingress routes is subject to Procedure III. Procedure IV is for special cases of strength testing material that cannot be assessed by Procedures I and II. All acceleration testing procedures must be performed in a military acceleration lab.

Procedure I – Structural Test

Procedure I is used to test if material can structurally withstand the loads induced by in-service accelerations.

Procedure II – Operational Test

Procedure II is used to determine if material will operate properly during and after subjection to loads. These loads are induced by in-service acceleration.

Procedure III – Crash Hazard Acceleration Test

Procedure III is used to show structural failures of material. These failures may present a hazard to personnel during or after a crash. This mechanical life cycle test verifies that material mounting and restraining devices won’t fail. It also verifies that sub-elements are not ejected during a crash.

This procedure is best used for material mounted in flight occupied areas. It is also suitable for material that could block aircrew/passenger egress or rescue personnel ingress after a crash. The crash hazard can also be evaluated by a static acceleration test and/or transient shock test.

The requirement for one or both procedures must be evaluated based on the test item. Crash Hazard Shock Testing should only be required when the system or attachment method has a natural frequency. This frequency is usually below the knee frequency of the shock SRS. Procedure III should be planned for in budgeting and scheduling, until analysis or a laboratory test proves this procedure unnecessary.

Procedure IV – Strength Test

Procedure IV is a strength test primarily intended to generate specific loads in primary structures using sine burst testing. This method may be used as an alternative to static pull or centrifuge testing. It is suitable for testing relatively stiff components, electronics boxes, instruments, or space vehicles.

The sine burst test is a base-driven test where the material is subjected to a few cycles of sinusoidal input. This is usually done below the first resonant frequency of the test article. This is to expose the hardware to a quasi-static loading.

Where is the Best Acceleration Lab to Get an Acceleration Certification for your Product?

Keystone Compliance has been recognized as one of the best acceleration laboratories in the country. Our life cycle test lab is run by expert test engineers, enabling us to provide the best acceleration testing. Our capabilities include testing to commercial, aerospace, and military acceleration testing standards.

Are you looking for an acceleration compliance testing for your product? Talk to our experts to develop a streamlined test plan and receive a professional and affordable quote. Contact us to learn why so many manufacturers rely on Keystone Compliance for their testing services.

There have been several versions of acceleration testing procedures in MIL-STD-810 Acceleration Testing. Below is a list of each version and the appropriate method number: