Part number 9209

VR9209

Accurate Test Acceleration

Vibration Research’s innovative FDS software reduces test time from analysis to control.

Set the target life based on product specifications and the test duration and define the slope of the s/n curve and quality factor (Q). The software automatically calculates the correct ratios to produce the same fatigue damage in a user-defined test duration.

FDS Software Features

• Calculation in the time domain (not frequency) to account for real-world kurtosis
• Displays peak acceleration, velocity, displacement, and kurtosis to quickly determine waveform statistics
• Includes Random Import (VR9204) to compare methods of random profile generation

With one mouse click, control the newly created test profile on a shaker system within VibrationVIEW. Move from a time waveform to a breakpoint profile and control the test all in one program.

Combine Multiple Waveforms

Create a random PSD profile that includes multiple input time-history files. Files can be weighted individually by time or cycles to create a total target life for the product. Combine methods include sum, envelope, or per-file envelope.

The software uses the same m, Q, and frequency range when combining data to create an equal relationship between each imported file. The output PSD will be the damage equivalent of the imported files and is generated from the target life for each waveform and the FDS settings.

• Display profile statistics
• Enable Kurtosion®
• Export data to a .csv or .txt file, including damage vs. frequency and file statistics for each FDS
• Create a breakpoint table
• Copy-and-paste the FDS list to a spreadsheet program such as Microsoft Excel®

Patented Kurtosis Control

The greatest damage potential is typically at peak acceleration levels. When the kurtosis value of a vibration signal is increased, the time spent at peak levels also increases. With kurtosis control, your test will better reflect what occurs in the real world.

Vibration Research’s patented kurtosis control, Kurtosion®, spreads damage over the fatigue damage spectrum rather than adding it to high frequencies only. Increasing just the kurtosis parameter will increase the damage experienced at higher frequencies, but a transition frequency parameter allows an adjustment to where the damage is placed.

VR Papers and Presentations (PDF)

Ford Case Study

Ford Motor Company and Vibration Research teamed up to solve a unique product development and vibration testing challenge. Download the case study to learn about:

• Ford Motor Company’s test scenario and concern
• Vibration Research’s proposed testing method: the Fatigue Damage Spectrum (FDS)
• How the FDS software solved Ford’s testing challenge

Additional Resources

When Should I Use FDS?

With the FDS software, engineers can create a random test profile that is the damage equivalent to weighted time-history files from the product’s end-use environment. They can also compare multiple test failures, compare specifications to real-world data, and determine if current testing is valid (or over/under-testing).

If you’re asking these questions, you need FDS

• What is the best random test to simulate my product’s environment?
• How long should I be running my random test?
• Can I accelerate my random test?

What is the FDS?

The Fatigue Damage Spectrum software is a test development tool that replicates the operational environment of a product. It is used to create an accelerated random test using real-world data. The resulting test is the damage equivalent to a product’s lifespan.

For test purposes, the software can convert the FDS into a power spectral density (PSD) using Henderson-Piersol’s potential damage spectrum. The result is a single PSD profile for multiple time-history files. The FDS-generated PSD is a cumulative spectrum that represents the relative damage experienced by the product for all the combined and weighted environments.

GM Case Study & Video Series

Accelerated Testing with Correlation to End-Use Environment

General Motors used the VibrationVIEW FDS software to answer the following questions:

• What random test profile and test duration do we need to accurately simulate the end-use environment over the life-cycle of the product?
• How can we combine different vibration environments into one test profile?
• How can we accelerate my vibration test?

Video 1 of 3

GM Case Study - FDS - Part 1

Analyzing data is the first step in producing a fatigue curve. First, we took field data from an engine run-up and reviewed it in the VibrationVIEW software.

Video 2 of 3

GM Case Study - FDS - Part 2

Next, we transformed the recorded data into a random PSD curve and compared the average method to our Fatigue Damage Spectrum method. We also measured kurtosis for consideration in the FDS transformation.

Video 3 of 3

GM Case Study - FDS - Part 3

Lastly, we used FDS to address the age-old question: is random or sine testing more severe?

Comparison of Ford Mustang Data

Engineers can use the FDS to compare dynamic environments and determine which is more damaging.

After comparing two field data recordings, the Vibration Research team found that the FDS is a valid method for determining the dynamic conditions of the two environments and their relationship to one another, so long as the resonance of the test item is known.

Video Series (5 of 5)

Mustang Comparison Project Description
Red Mustang Damage Calculation
Green Mustang Damage Calculation
Export Damage Data to Excel
Graph Excel Data