APPLICATIONS TRAINING

RANDOM VIBRATION

DEFINITIONS AND TERMINOLOGY APPLICABLE

TO VIBRATION ISOLATION MOUNTING SYSTEMS
GENERAL
Random Vibration: In direct contrast
to the definition of standard vibration,
and as the name implies, random
vibration has a different pattern. All
frequencies, within the given limits,
occur at the same time. However, the
amplitude of any discrete frequency
could be very large or very small at
any given instant in time, within the
capabilities of the test equipment
available.
Barry Controls Proprietary
 APPLICATIONS TRAINING

RANDOM VIBRATION

DEFINITIONS AND TERMINOLOGY APPLICABLE

TO VIBRATION ISOLATION MOUNTING SYSTEMS
GENERAL
SINUSOIDAL VIBRATION RANDOM VIBRATION
Oscillation Oscillation
Predictable Unpredictable Instantaneous Magnitudes
Single Frequency(s) All Frequencies at Once
Pure Tone / Motion Statistics
Spectral Density
Probability Distribution
White Noise / Static

Barry Controls Proprietary

 APPLICATIONS TRAINING

RANDOM VIBRATION

DEFINITIONS AND TERMINOLOGY APPLICABLE

TO VIBRATION ISOLATION MOUNTING SYSTEMS
SPECIFIC
Random Vibration: Oscillations whose instantaneous amplitudes
occur, as a function of time, according to a normal (Gaussian) curve.

Stationary Vibration: The condition of stationarity for periodic

vibration. That type of vibration for which properties, such as the
Mean Magnitude, the RMS Magnitude, the Spectral Density, and the
Probability Distribution of the Random Vibration Magnitude, are
independent of time. Power Density: The usual way to describe
random motion is in terms of its Power Spectral Density (PSD).

Barry Controls Proprietary

 APPLICATIONS TRAINING

RANDOM VIBRATION

DEFINITIONS AND TERMINOLOGY APPLICABLE

TO VIBRATION ISOLATION MOUNTING SYSTEMS
SPECIFIC
White Noise: A type of Random Vibration for which the Spectral
Density has a constant value for all frequencies from zero to
infinity.

Band-Limited White Noise: A type of Random Vibration for

which the Spectral Density has a constant value over a
specified frequency range.

Barry Controls Proprietary

 APPLICATIONS TRAINING

RANDOM VIBRATION

DEFINITIONS AND TERMINOLOGY APPLICABLE

TO VIBRATION ISOLATION MOUNTING SYSTEMS
SPECIFIC
Power Density: The Power Density W(f) of Random Vibration is the
Mean-Square Magnitude per Unit Bandwidth of the output of an
ideal filter with unity gain responding to the vibration as follows:
W(f) = F(f)2RMS/ f
where by convention the bandwidth f is usually chosen to be 1Hz.

Power Density Spectrum: A graphical representation of values of

power density W(f) displayed as a function of frequency. It
represents the distribution of vibration energy with frequency.

Barry Controls Proprietary

 APPLICATIONS TRAINING

RANDOM VIBRATION

DEFINITIONS AND TERMINOLOGY APPLICABLE

TO VIBRATION ISOLATION MOUNTING SYSTEMS
SPECIFIC
Normal Probability Distribution: Standardized form of the normal
(or Gaussian) Probability Density, assuming a zero Mean
Magnitude, is given by:
P (F/) = (1/ 2 )e-1/2 (F/)2
where is the standard deviation or RMS magnitude of the
variable F and - <F> . The normal probability distribution has
been found to describe suitably the statistical distribution of the
instantaneous magnitude of random vibration.

Barry Controls Proprietary

 APPLICATIONS TRAINING

RANDOM VIBRATION

TYPICAL RANDOM VIBRATION SPECTRA

SPECIFIC

Barry Controls Proprietary

 APPLICATIONS TRAINING

RANDOM VIBRATION

DEFINITIONS AND TERMINOLOGY APPLICABLE

TO VIBRATION ISOLATION MOUNTING SYSTEMS
SPECIFIC
f = frequency (Hz)
f1 = lower limit of frequency band (Hz)
f2 = upper limit of frequency band (Hz)
fn = natural frequency (Hz)
G = gravitational constant
Sf = input power spectral density (G2 / Hz)
Tr = resonant transmissibility
X = instantaneous input displacement

Barry Controls Proprietary

 APPLICATIONS TRAINING

RANDOM VIBRATION

DEFINITIONS AND TERMINOLOGY APPLICABLE

TO VIBRATION ISOLATION MOUNTING SYSTEMS
SPECIFIC
X = root-mean-square input displacement (inches)
RMS
X

= instantaneous inputs acceleration (gs)
XRMS = root-mean-square input accelerations (gs)
Y = response displacement (inches)

YRMS = GRMS = root-mean-square response acceleration (gs)
Y = peak response displacement (inches)
O
YO = peak response acceleration (gs)
YRMS = RMS response displacement (inches)

Barry Controls Proprietary

 APPLICATIONS TRAINING

RANDOM VIBRATION

ANALYZING RANDOM VIBRATION IN PREPARATION

OF SELECTING VIBRATION ISOLATION MOUNTS
PERFORMANCE LIMITS
Performance limits are calculated based on the following
relationship:
(Y/3)fn2
GRMS = ; Sf = GRMS2 / (/2) fn Tr
9.8
It should be further noted that the limiting criteria is one of
displacement capability within the mount and thereby its ability,
when snubbing, under 3 YRMS excursion peaks.

Barry Controls Proprietary

 APPLICATIONS TRAINING

RANDOM VIBRATION

ANALYZING RANDOM VIBRATION IN PREPARATION

OF SELECTING VIBRATION ISOLATION MOUNTS
WORK SHEET; 1
Required Data:
Resonant Frequency: ______ Hz.*
Resonant Transmissibility: ______ T*
Acceleration Spectral Density ______ G2/Hz
(In region of isolator resonance)

*Assumes that the Fn of the isolator is within the test spectra.

Barry Controls Proprietary

 APPLICATIONS TRAINING

RANDOM VIBRATION

ANALYZING RANDOM VIBRATION IN PREPARATION

OF SELECTING VIBRATION ISOLATION MOUNTS
WORK SHEET; 1b
Calculations:
GRMS Value: ______ Gs
(From Barry Slide Rule)

Displacement (RMS):
R ES
ULT
2 3.13 2
3.13
rms = ( fn
) GRMS = ( ) = inches
D
FIN
D FIN

Barry Controls Proprietary

 APPLICATIONS TRAINING

RANDOM VIBRATION

ANALYZING RANDOM VIBRATION IN PREPARATION

OF SELECTING VIBRATION ISOLATION MOUNTS
WORK SHEET; 1c
Calculations:
Required Isolator Displacement (necessary):

necessary = 3 rms = 3 ( ) = ______ inches

Why 3 ? Because at 1 the percentage of probability of

actual deflection to snub is excessively high; i.e.; > 30%. At 3
the percentage of probability of actual deflection is < 0.3%.

Barry Controls Proprietary

 APPLICATIONS TRAINING

RANDOM VIBRATION

DETERMINING DISPLACEMENT REQUIRED FOR

MOUNTING AN AIRBORNE ELECTRONIC PACKAGE
WORK SHEET; 2
Exercise: Determining Necessary Displacement of Mounts
Givens: Supported Mass = Airborne electronic package
Mounting interface = Soft mount
Mount fn = 30Hz
Mount Tr = 3.0
Input Power Spectral Density = 0.06 G2 /Hz in area of
mount resonance.

Barry Controls Proprietary

 APPLICATIONS TRAINING

RANDOM VIBRATION

DETERMINING DISPLACEMENT REQUIRED FOR

MOUNTING AN AIRBORNE ELECTRONIC PACKAGE
WORK SHEET; 2b
Exercise: Determine Necessary Displacement of Mounts
Solution With Givens of:
fn = 30Hz
Tr = 3.0
Sf = 0.06 G2/Hz

Calculate GRMS:

(/2)(3.0(30)(0.06)) = 2.91 GRMS

Barry Controls Proprietary

 APPLICATIONS TRAINING

RANDOM VIBRATION

DETERMINING DISPLACEMENT REQUIRED FOR

MOUNTING AN AIRBORNE ELECTRONIC PACKAGE
WORK SHEET; 2c
Exercise: Determine Necessary Displacement of Mounts
Calculate RMS displacement (YRMS):

YRMS = (9.8) (2.91)/(30)2 = 0.032 inches

Multiply by probability factor of 3:

(3) (.032) = .096 inches

Solution: Displacement requirement is .096 inches

Barry Controls Proprietary

 APPLICATIONS TRAINING

RANDOM VIBRATION

DETERMINING SUITABILITY OF A PRE-SELECTED

MOUNT WITH AN AIRBORNE EQUIPMENT PACKAGE
WORK SHEET; 3
Exercise: Determine Suitability of Pre-Selected Mount (S series)
Givens:
Pre-selected mount = Barry S Series
Fragility level = 10 Gs
Random input = 0.03 G2 Hz
Range = 0.5 - 100 Hz

Solution:
S mount specs: fn = 7 Hz & Tr = 4; Sf = 0.03 G2/Hz
Given: Sf = 0.03 G2/Hz
Given: Fragility level = 10 gs
Barry Controls Proprietary
 APPLICATIONS TRAINING

RANDOM VIBRATION

DETERMINING SUITABILITY OF A PRE-SELECTED

MOUNT WITH AN AIRBORNE EQUIPMENT PACKAGE
WORK SHEET; 3b
Exercise: Determine Suitability of Pre-Selected Mount (S series)
Solution:
Calculate GRMS: GRMS = 1.15 Gs

Probability theory indicates that there is a 0.3% chance of

exceeding a 3 GRMS acceleration level. A 3 GRMS level is 3.45
Gs as compared with the fragility level of 10 Gs so the
design is considered quite safe.

Barry Controls Proprietary

 APPLICATIONS TRAINING

RANDOM VIBRATION

DETERMINING SUITABILITY OF A PRE-SELECTED

MOUNT WITH AN AIRBORNE EQUIPMENT PACKAGE
WORK SHEET; 3c
Exercise: Determine Suitability of Pre-Selected Mount (S series)
Solution (cont.):
However, further calculation shows that the response
displacement is:
9.8 GRMS/fn2 = 9.8(1.15)/49 = 0.23 inches
and that a deflection capability of 3 times that or 0.69 inches
is required. Since the S mount does not have this deflection
capability an alternative mounting solution must be sought.
In all probability, a custom solution will be required for this
application.

Barry Controls Proprietary