Innovative Approach to Low Cost Shock Testing Fixture for Medium Weight, Shock Isolated Equipment Navy SBIR FY2012.3 Sol No.: Navy SBIR FY2012.3 Topic No.: N123-158 Topic Title: Innovative Approach to Low Cost Shock Testing Fixture for Medium Weight, Shock Isolated Equipment Proposal No.: N123-158-0106 Firm: Hi-Test Laboratories, Inc P.O. Box 87 1104 Arvon Rd. Arvonia, Virginia 23004 Contact: Steve McCampbell Phone: (434) 581-3204 Web Site: hitestlabs.com Abstract: Despite being within the payload capacity of the Medium Weight Shock Machine (MWSM), shock qualification testing of medium weight (500 - 4500 lbs) Class II equipment must currently be performed through underwater explosion (UNDEX) testing using a Floating Shock Platform (FSP), typically in combination with a Deck Simulator Fixture (DSF). A significant cost savings could be realized if these medium weight Class II items were able to be shock tested using the MWSM. To achieve this savings, a fixture and MWSM test procedure must be developed to adequately simulate the dynamic environment and thus produce the critical failure modes of these equipment items. An evolutionary design approach is proposed wherein the unique features of a deck fixture and a tipping flyer plate fixture concept are to be integrated into a low-frequency, tunable, multi-directional MWSM fixture design offering broad capabilities. This performance of fixture design concepts relative to the target FSP/DSF shock test environment and accompanying test objectives will be evaluated through advance modeling and simulation techniques. Benefits: This effort will demonstrate the feasibility of a low frequency deck fixture design suitable for shock qualification testing of medium weight Class II items using the Medium Weight Shock Machine. A clear vision for fixture deployment and test execution will also be put forth in a successful Phase I effort. Primary commercialization of the MWSM fixture will be realized in the conduct of shock qualification testing of medium weight Class II equipment and systems to be installed onboard US Navy ships at a significantly reduced cost relative to currently required FSP testing. Shock testing of deck mounted Class I items could also benefit from the controllable test frequency that may be used to better simulate shipboard deck environments. This fixture would be a pervasive technology for use in shock qualification activities at current MWSM facilities throughout the country. The proposed fixture may also be used for other Department of Defense applications, platforms and equipment that are subjected to similar environments. Sharing of this technology with foreign Navy's could further enhance commercialization. Further, vendors developing Commercial Off the Shelf (COTS) equipment for military and non-military applications could utilize the new, tunable test capability provided by this fixture technology in verifying their designs during research and development and design activities prior to shock qualification. Thus, this new test capability would allow for the design of items better able to survive shock events. The ability of the fixture to provide tailoring of the shock loading generated by the MWSM will provide a commercial sector benefit, ensuring dual application. Return