ASTM D999-96
(Test Method)Standard Methods for Vibration Testing of Shipping Containers
Standard Methods for Vibration Testing of Shipping Containers
SCOPE
1.1 These methods cover vibration tests of filled shipping containers. Such tests may be used to assess the performance of a container, with its interior packing and means of closure, both in terms of its strength and of the protection it provides its contents when it is subjected to vibration such as it experiences in transportation. These procedures are suitable for testing containers of any form, material, kind, design of interior packing, means of closure, and any size and weight. They are not intended for determining the response of products to vibration for product design purposes, nor are they intended for tests of products in their operational configuration as other more suitable procedures are available for these purposes.
1.2 The following methods appear: Method A1-Repetitive Shock Test (Vertical Motion). Method A2-Repetitive Shock Test (Rotary Motion). Method B-Single Container Resonance Test. Method C-Palletized Load, Unitized Load, or Vertical Stack Resonance Test.
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use. Specific precautionary statements are given in Section 6.
1.3 These methods fulfill the requirements of International Organization for Standardization standards ISO 8318 and ISO 2247. The ISO standards may not meet the requirements for these methods.
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Designation: D 999 – 96
Standard Methods for
Vibration Testing of Shipping Containers
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 999; 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 D 4332 Practice for Conditioning Containers, Packages, or
Packaging Components for Testing
1.1 These methods cover vibration tests of filled shipping
E 122 Practice for Choice of Sample Size to Estimate a
containers. Such tests may be used to assess the performance of
Measure of Quality of a Lot or Process
a container, with its interior packing and means of closure, both
2.2 ISO Standards:
in terms of its strength and of the protection it provides its
ISO 2247 Packaging—Complete, filled transport
contents when it is subjected to vibration such as it experiences
packages—Vibration test at fixed low frequency
in transportation. These procedures are suitable for testing
ISO 8318 Packaging—Complete, filled transport
containers of any form, material, kind, design of interior
packages—Vibration tests using a variable frequency
packing, means of closure, and any size and weight. They are
not intended for determining the response of products to
3. Terminology
vibration for product design purposes, nor are they intended for
3.1 Definitions:
tests of products in their operational configuration as other
2,3 3.1.1 resonance—a vibration of large amplitude in a me-
more suitable procedures are available for these purposes.
chanical system caused by a relatively small periodic stimulus
1.2 The following methods appear:
of the same or nearly the same period as the natural vibration
Method A1—Repetitive Shock Test (Vertical Motion).
period of the system.
Method A2—Repetitive Shock Test (Rotary Motion).
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
Method B—Single Container Resonance Test.
3.2.1 double amplitude—the maximum value of a sinusoi-
Method C—Palletized Load, Unitized Load, or Vertical
dal quantity (peak-to-peak).
Stack Resonance Test.
3.2.2 octave—the interval between two frequencies having
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the
a ratio of two (2).
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
3.2.3 repetitive shock—impacts of a package on a test
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
platform which occur cyclically from input vibration.
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. Specific precau-
4. Significance and Use
tionary statements are given in Section 6.
4.1 Shipping containers are exposed to complex dynamic
1.4 These methods fulfill the requirements of International
stresses when subjected to vibration present in all transporta-
Organization for Standardization standards ISO 8318 and ISO
tion vehicles. Approximating the actual damage, or lack of
2247. The ISO standards may not meet the requirements for
damage, experienced in shipping may require subjecting the
these methods.
container(s) and contents to vibration inputs.
4.2 Resonant responses during shipment can be severe and
2. Referenced Documents
may lead to package or product failure. Identification of critical
2.1 ASTM Standards:
frequencies, and the nature of package stresses can aid in
D 4169 Practice for Performance Testing of Shipping Con-
4 minimizing the effect of these occurrences.
tainers and Systems
4.3 Vibration tests should be based on representative field
data. When possible, the confidence level may be improved by
These methods are under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D-10 on
comparing laboratory test results with actual field shipment
Packaging and are the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D10.22 on Handling
data.
and Transportation.
Current edition approved Feb. 10, 1996. Published April 1996. Originally 4.4 Exposure to vibration can affect the shipping container,
published as D 999 – 48 T. Last previous edition D 999 – 91.
its interior packaging, means of closure, and contents. These
Military Standard Environmental Test Methods, MIL-STD-810D, Method 514,
tests allow analysis of the interaction of these components.
Vibration, available from Naval Publications and Forms Center, 5801 Tabor Ave.,
Design modification to one or more of these components may
Philadelphia, PA 19120.
International Electrotechnical Commission Recommendation, Publication 68-
2-6, Part 2, Test F: Vibration, Basic Environmental Testing Procedures for
Electronic Components and Electrical Equipment, available from American Na- Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 14.02.
tional Standards Institute, Inc., 11 W. 42nd St., 13th Floor, New York, NY 10036. Available from American National Standards Institute, 11 W. 42nd St., 13th
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 15.09. Floor, New York, NY 10036.
Copyright © ASTM, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
D 999
be utilized to achieve optimum performance in the shipping platform without restricting the vertical motion.
environment. 5.3 Methods B and C—Resonance Tests (also suitable for
4.5 Methods A1 and A2, Repetitive Shock Tests, are suitable Method A 1):
for tests of individual containers that are transported unre- 5.3.1 Vibration Test Machine, with a platform having a
strained on the bed of a vehicle and may be suitable for tests of horizontal surface of sufficient strength and rigidity so that the
containers that might be subjected to repetitive shocks due to applied vibrations are essentially uniform over the entire test
magnification of vibrations in unit loads or stacks. surface when loaded with the test specimen. The platform shall
be supported by a mechanism capable of producing a sinusoi-
NOTE 1—Methods A1 and A2 produce different vibration motions and
dal vibration in the vertical linear plane at controlled accelera-
therefore will generate different forces which may result in different
tions or displacements, or both, over a controlled continuously
damage modes and intensities. Results from these two methods may not
variable range of frequencies. (A rotary motion of the platform
correlate with one another.
is not acceptable.) Suitable fixtures and attachment points shall
4.6 Method B, Single Container Resonance Test, tests or
be provided to rigidly attach the test container to the platform
determines the ability of an individual container and its interior
for Method B. Restraints shall be provided to restrain the
packaging to protect the contents from transportation vibration,
horizontal motion of the test specimens on the platform without
particularly when the container and its contents might exhibit
restricting the vertical motion of the specimen(s), for Method
resonant responses.
C.
NOTE 2—Individual products that are palletized might be better tested
5.4 Instrumentation—Accelerometers, signal conditioners,
using Method C.
and data display or storage devices are required to measure and
4.7 Method C, Palletized Load, Unitized Load or Vertical control the accelerations at the test surface in Methods B and
Stack Resonance Test, covers the determination of the presence
C. Instrumentation may also be desirable for monitoring the
and the effects of resonance in palletized loads and multiple- response of the containers and packaged items. The instrumen-
unit stacked loads, and whether or not the strength of the
tation system shall have a response accurate to within 65%
containers is sufficient to withstand dynamic loads when over the range specified for the test. Detailed information on
stacked.
suitable instrumentation may be found in the Shock and
4.8 Any or all of these test methods may be employed, as Vibration Handbook.
determined by the appropriate performance specification, with
5.5 Conditioning Apparatus—Adequate facilities shall be
test intensities, frequency ranges, and test durations as called provided for conditioning test specimens at selected humidity
for in the specification. Although these tests do not simulate the
and temperature prior to or during the test, or both, in
shipping environment, they are intended to create the damage- accordance with the requirements of the applicable specifica-
producing potential of the shipping environment.
tion.
5. Apparatus
6. Safety Precautions
5.1 Method A1—Repetitive Shock Test (Vertical Motion):
6.1 These test methods may produce severe mechanical
5.1.1 Vibration Test Machine, with a platform having a
responses of the test specimens. Therefore, fences, barricades,
horizontal surface of sufficient strength and rigidity so that the
and other restraints must have sufficient strength and must be
applied vibrations are essentially uniform over the entire test
adequately secured. Operating personnel must remain alert to
surface when loaded with the test specimen. The platform shall
potential hazards and take necessary precautions for their
be supported by a mechanism that vibrates it so the motion is
safety. Stop the test immediately if a dangerous condition
approximately a vertical sinusoidal input. (A rotary motion of
should develop.
the platform is not acceptable.) The double amplitude displace-
7. Test Specimens
ment of the vibration shall be fixed at or controlled to 1 in. (25
mm), and the frequency shall be variable within the range from 7.1 The test specimen shall consist of the container, as
2 to at least 5 Hz (cycles per second). The vibration test
intended for shipment, loaded with the interior packaging and
machine shall be equipped with fences, barracades, or other the actual contents for which it was designed. Blemished or
restraints to keep the test specimen from falling off of the
rejected products may be used, if the defect is recorded prior to
platform without restricting its vertical motion. the test. Dummy test items should be used for developmental
5.2 Method A2—Repetitive Shock Test (Rotary Motion):
testing when necessary, but may not be used for final accep-
5.2.1 Vibration Test Machine, with a platform having a tance testing.
horizontal surface of sufficient strength and rigidity so that the
NOTE 3—Surrogate material may be used when actual product is
applied vibrations are essentially uniform over the entire test
unacceptable for use (for example, package testing for hazardous materi-
surface when loaded with the test specimen. The platform shall
als).
be supported by a mechanism that vibrates it so that the mo
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