ASTM D6537-00

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
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Designation:D6537–00
Standard Practice For
Instrumented Package Shock Testing For Determination of
Package Performance
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 6537; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope 2.2 ISO Standard:
10012 Quality Assurance for Measuring Equipment
1.1 This practice covers methods for obtaining measured
shock responses using instrumentation for an actual or simu-
3. Terminology
lated product package system when subjected to defined shock
3.1 Definitions:
inputs to measure package performance.
3.1.1 General definitions for packaging and distribution are
1.2 This practice establishes methods for obtaining mea-
found in Terminology D 996.
sured shock data for use with shock and impact test methods.
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
It is not intended as a substitute for performance testing of
3.2.1 accelerometer—a sensor that converts acceleration
shipping containers and systems such as Practice D 4169.
into a proportional electric signal for measurement.
1.3 This practice will address acceleration measuring tech-
3.2.2 coeffıcient of restitution—the ratio of the rebound
niques. Other ways of measuring shock impacts, such as high
velocity to the impact velocity.
speed video, are not covered by this practice.
3.2.3 complex waveform—acceleration versus time graph
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the
representing the responses of many different spring/mass
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
systems when subjected to an impact. Also referred to as a
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
complex shock-pulse.
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
3.2.4 faired acceleration—the amplitude representing the
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
primaryorintendedresponsesysteminacomplexshockpulse.
2. Referenced Documents 3.2.5 fairing—the graphical smoothing of a recorded pulse
by visually estimating the amplitude of the primary waveform
2.1 ASTM Standards:
when high frequency responses are also present.
D 996 Terminology of Packaging and Distribution Environ-
3.2.6 peak acceleration—the maximum absolute value of
ments
acceleration which occurred during the shock pulse.
D 3332 Test Method for Mechanical – Shock Fragility of
2 3.2.7 primary waveform—acceleration versus time graph
Products, Using Shock Machines
representing the response of the spring/mass system of interest
D 4003 Test Methods for Programmable Horizontal Impact
2 when subjected to an impact. Also referred to as a primary
Test for Shipping Containers and Systems
shock-pulse.
D 4169 Practice for Performance Testing of Shipping Con-
2 3.2.8 pulse duration—the amount of time the shock accel-
tainers and Systems
erationisbeyondareferencelevel.Thislevelisgenerallytaken
D 5276 Test Method for DropTest of Loaded Containers by
2 as 10 % of the pulse peak acceleration (not the zero baseline)
Free Fall
to most accurately represent the effective duration and fre-
D 5277 Test Method for Performing Programmed Horizon-
2 quency of the pulse.
tal Impacts Using an Inclined Impact Tester
3.2.9 velocity change—the sum of the velocity at impact
D 5487 Test Method for Simulated Drop of Loaded Con-
and the rebound velocity.
tainers by Shock Machines
D 6055 Test Methods for Mechanical Handling of Unitized
4. Significance and Use
Loads and Large Shipping Cases and Crates
4.1 This practice is intended to provide the user with a
D 6179 Test Methods for Rough Handling of Unitized
process to obtain data on package performance when a
Loads and Large Shipping Cases and Crates
packagedproductissubjectedtoshock.Thesemeasurescanbe
used to quantify or qualify a package system.
This practice is under the jurisdiction ofASTM Committee D-10 on Packaging
and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D10.16 on Instrumentation.
Current edition approved April 10, 2000. Published June 2000. Available from theAmerican National Standards Institute, 11W. 42nd St., 13th
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 15.09. Floor, New York, NY 10036.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
D6537–00
4.2 Data from this practice may provide a measure of a 7. Test Specimen
package’s ability to mitigate the various levels of shipping
7.1 Option 1—Actual contents and package.
shock or impact hazards. These measures may be used to
7.1.1 Use this option to evaluate the protective capability of
prescribe a mode of shipping and handling that will not induce
the package intended for shipment and when the actual
damagetothepackagedproductortodefinetherequiredlevels
contents are available. Testing a prototype package may yield
of protection that must be provided by its packaging.
results that differ from a production manufactured package.
4.3 This practice could potentially be used in conjunction
Care should be taken to ensure that the construction and
withthedataderivedfromTestMethodD 3332(MethodB)for
materials of the prototype are representative of a production
optimizing cushion design.
package. Re-testing may be required with a production pack-
4.4 This practice obtains data at the interface of the product
agetoverifyearliertestresults.(Warning—Damagetothetest
and package (coupled) or element response, depending on the
specimen may result from shock or impact testing.)
intent of the user (see 10.1 and 10.1.1).
7.1.2 The contents may or may not be operational or in
calibration.
5. Apparatus
7.2 Option 2—Simulated contents and package.
5.1 Shock or impact apparatus shall be as described in the
7.2.1 Usethisoptiontoevaluatethepackagewhenaccessto
established shock or impact method used. Examples of shock
the actual contents is prohibitive because of availability,
and impact apparatuses are described in Test Methods D 4003,
excessive cost or hazardous nature. This option may also be
D 5276, D 5277, D 5487 and D 6055.
desirable to eliminate or minimize high frequency responses
5.2 Instrumentation:
that the actual product may produce.
5.2.1 Instrumentation System—Accelerometer(s), cables,
signalconditioner,andadataacquisitionsystemarerequiredto 7.2.2 Amock-up simulating the actual product with respect
record acceleration versus time histories. The instrumentation to dimensions, center of gravity, moment of inertia and other
system shall have the following minimum properties: product characteristics may be used.
5.2.1.1 Frequency response from at least 2 Hz to at least
7.2.3 A dummy load may be used to represent the loading
1000 Hz.
characteristics of the actual product within the package.
5.2.1.2 Accuracy reading to be within 65 % of the actual
7.2.4 Mock-ups and dummy loads are to be fabricated from
value.
rigid, non-responsive materials such as wood, plastic, model-
5.2.1.3 Accelerometers—An appropriate accelerometer
ing foam, aluminum, or steel, and be durable enough to
shallbeusedthatiscapableofmeasuringtheaccelerationinput
withstand the intended impacts without failing. A mock-up
over the desired amplitude frequency and temperature range.
loadmayusepart(s)oftheactualproductwithmodificationsto
Avoid accelerometers where the mass characteristics of the
replicate the actual product or be fabricated entirely from other
accelerometer, including any attachments to it (mountings,
materials.
cables, etc.), will affect the weight or stiffness of the surface to
7.3 Minor modifications may be made to the product or
which it is attached.
package to accommodate accelerometers, cabling, or to ob-
NOTE 1—Afalse reading of the mounting structure or unnecessary high
serve the product during the test. Such modifications are
frequency responses will occur if the mass of the accelerometer is too
allowed as long as they do not affect the test results.
large in relation to the mounting surface. The mass characteristics of the
th 7.4 Care must be taken to ensure that no degradation has
accelerometer assembly should be less than ⁄10 the mass of the structure
4 occurred to the package if the test packages have been shipped
being measured (1) .
to the test site. If any doubt exists as to the condition of the
5.2.1.4 Cross axis sensitivity less than 5 % of actual value.
package, repackage the product in new packaging material
5.2.1.5 Cabling—Use cables that are suitable to the system
before testing.
used. Accelerometer cables should be as lightweight and
flexible as possible to avoid mass loading on the accelerometer
8. Calibration
or structure being tested. Cable length may alter the desired
8.1 The accuracy of the test equipment must be verified to
signal depending on the application and type of accelerometer
used. Refer to manufacturers’ recommendations for appropri- ensure reliable test data.
ate cable type and length because various accelerometer types
8.1.1 System calibration is generally accomplished by hav-
require special cables and are not necessarily interchangeable.
ing each of the individual components calibrated periodically
(2).
6. Sampling
8.2 Verification of calibration must be performed on a
6.1 Sampling procedures and the number of test specimens
regular basis to ensure compliance with all accuracy require-
depends on the specific purposes and needs of the testing. ments established in Section 5. Refer to manufacturer’s rec-
Refer to the sampling procedure for the standard test method
ommendations on calibration schedules. Typically, system
chosen. verification is performed at least on an annual basis. In no case
shall the time interval between verification of system calibra-
tion exceed 18 months.
8.3 Contractual regulations may require more periodic cali-
The boldface numbers given in parentheses refer to a list of references at the
end of the text. brations.
D6537–00
8.4 International standards, such as ISO 10012, provide acceleration direction to be measured. Any misalignment will
insightandmethodsfordeterminingre-calibrationintervalsfor result in an error which is proportional to the cosine of the
most measuring equipment. angle between the accelerometer’s measuring direction and the
8.5 Accelerometers may need to be re-calibrated on a more direction of actual motion.
frequent basis. Factors such as extent of use, environmental or
NOTE 5—Example—If an accelerometer is mounted at an angle of 10°
other unusual conditions may require that the accelerometer be
from the direction of actual motion, it will measure only a component of
re-calibrated before its scheduled due date.
the acceleration A, equal to A 3 cosine 10° = A 3 0.985, which is an error
of 1.5 %.
9. Conditioning
10.3 Document the sensing orientation of the accelerometer
9.1 Conditionthepackageandcomponentstothecondition-
in reference to the axis of the product. When the package is
ing requirements in accordance with the test method being
assembled the accelerometer orientation may not be readily
followed. Unless otherwise specified, conduct all tests with the
accessible. Most recording devices require pre-impact setup
same conditions prevailing.
prior to each test to ensure that the shock or impact event for
10. Procedure the desired axis is recorded.
10.4 Make necessary connections from the accelerometer(s)
10.1 Total Product Response—Mounttheaccelerometerata
to the signal conditioner. Refer to manufacturer’s recommen-
location on the product that represents the product as a single
dations for proper connections. Labeling of the cables by
mass. This location should be rigid and non-flexible to prevent
channel or axis is recommended if more than one accelerom-
extraneous responses from being measured, thus distorting or
eter is used during testing.
influencing the resulting data. The accelerometer is to be
10.4.1 Cables should be securely fastened to the mounting
mounted on the product, or simulated product, so that the
structure with tape, a clamp, or other adhesive to minimize
sensitive axis of the accelerometer is aligned in the direction of
cable whip and connector strain. Cable whip can introduce
the applied shock. Where possible, mount the accelerometer
noise, especially in high impedance signal paths. Cable strain
near the product’s center of gravity, or along a line passing
near the electrical connector can often lead to intermittent or
through the center of gravity for the axis being measured.
broken connections and loss of data. Cables should be fastened
Measured shock responses from locations other than the center
to the structure with ample slack equal to or greater than the
of gravity may be misleading due to item rotation.
maximum amount of potential displacement the structure may
NOTE 2—Caution should be used when mounting the accelerometer to
undergo to avoid damage to the sensor/cable connection. See
theexterioroftheproduct.Damagetotheaccelerometercanresultifthere
Fig. 1 for proper cable connection.
is insufficient distance between the product and the interior of the package
upon impact.
NOTE 6—Avoid routing cables along floors or walkways where they
NOTE 3—Utilization of more than one accelerometer to record multiple
may be stepped on or become contaminated. Also avoid routing cables
axes or vectors simultaneously can expedite testing when evaluating
nearAC power wires. If necessary to crossAC power lines, do so at right
multiple orientations. Using multiple accelerometers eliminates the need
angles. Do not kink, bend sharply, or place cable in tension.
to open the package and reposition the accelerometer after each series of
10.5 Assemble the package in accordance with the speci-
tests. Triaxial type accelerometers work well for most applications where
men option chosen.
the mounting location is representative of the overall product movement.
10.6 Close and secure the package in the same manner as
NOTE 4—When comparing results of earlier testing, the accelerometer
should be mounted in the same location as previous so that data can be specified for shipment.
compared equally.
10.7 Prepare the recording device in accordance with the
manufacturer’s instructions. Typically this would include pre-
10.1.1 Element or Component Response (Option 1
setting the trigger threshold level to a value lower than the
Only)—To measure acceleration imparted through the package
expected response of the product during impact. Some systems
and through the product’s structure to a component or element
will require that the scale also be pre-set. Finally the system
of interest, follow all accelerometer
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