ASTM D5487-98

Standard Test Method for Simulated Drop of Loaded Containers by Shock Machines

SCOPE
1.1 This test method covers the general procedures of using shock machines to replicate the effects of vertical drops of loaded shipping containers, cylindrical containers, and bags and sacks.
1.2 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety problems, 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.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 09-Oct-1998
• Technical Committee: D10 - Packaging
• Drafting Committee: D10.21 - Shipping Containers and Systems - Application of Performance Test Methods

Relations

• Replaced By: ASTM D5487-98(2002) - Standard Test Method for Simulated Drop of Loaded Containers by Shock Machines
• Effective Date: 10-Oct-1998

Standards Content (Sample)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or
withdrawn. Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information.
Designation: D 5487 – 98
AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR TESTING AND MATERIALS
100 Barr Harbor Dr., West Conshohocken, PA 19428
Reprinted from the Annual Book of ASTM Standards. Copyright ASTM
Standard Test Method for
1
Simulated Drop of Loaded Containers by Shock Machines
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 5487; 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 striking the shock pulse programmer.
3.2.4 velocity—the rate of change of position of a body in a
1.1 This test method covers the general procedures of using
specified direction with respect to time, measured in inches per
shock machines to replicate the effects of vertical drops of
second or metres per second.
loaded shipping containers, cylindrical containers, and bags
and sacks.
4. Significance and Use
1.2 This standard does not purport to address all of the
4.1 Shipping containers and the interior packaging materials
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
are used to protect their contents from the hazards encountered
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
in handling, transportation, and storage. Shock is one of the
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
more troublesome of these hazards. Free-fall drop testing,
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
while easy to perform, often understresses the test specimen by
2. Referenced Documents subjecting it to drops which are not perpendicular to the
dropping surface.
2.1 ASTM Standards:
D 996 Terminology of Packaging and Distribution Environ-
NOTE 1—For example, testing has shown that non-perpendicular drops,
2
ments
2° off perpendicularity, result in 8 % lower acceleration into the test
5
specimen resulting from the impact energy dispersing in several axes.
D 999 Test Methods for Vibration Testing of Shipping
2
Containers
4.1.1 Controlled shock input by shock machines provides a
D 3332 Test Methods for Mechanical-Shock Fragility of
convenient method for evaluating the ability of shipping
2
Products Using Shock Machines
containers, interior packaging materials, and contents to with-
D 4332 Practice for Conditioning Containers, Packages, or
stand shocks. Simulated free-fall drop testing of package
2
Packaging Components for Testing
systems, which have critical elements, has produced good
D 5276 Test Method for Drop Test of Loaded Containers by
results where the frequency of the shock pulse is at least three
2
Free Fall
times that of the package system’s natural frequency.
E 122 Practice for Choice of Sample Size to Estimate the
4.2 As in most mechanical shock test procedures, fixturing
3
Average Quality of a Lot or Process
of the package on the shock test machine may have significant
influence on the test results. Typically, packages will be firmly
3. Terminology
held on the table by securing some type of cross member(s)
3.1 General terms for packaging and distribution environ-
across the top of the package. Care should be taken that any
ments are found in Terminology D 996.
pressure resulting from such fixturing should be minimal,
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
particularly when the container being tested is corrugated or
3.2.1 critical element—the most fragile component of the
some other similar material.
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test specimen.
4.2.1 In cases where low-acceleration, long-duration re-
3.2.2 shock pulse programmer—a device used to control the
sponses are anticipated, any fixturing can potentially influence
parameters of the shock pulse and shape of the pulse generated
packaged item response and can possibly alter any correlation
by the shock test machine.
between this test method and free-fall drop testing. Where such
3.2.3 shock test machine drop height—the distance through
correlation is desired, the package can be tested without it
which the carriage of the shock test machine free falls before
being fixed directly to the table. Note that in such circum-
stances, the shipping container can vigorously rebound from
1 the table and can, if not otherwise controlled, present a safety
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D-10 on
Packaging and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D10.22 on Physical Test problem for operators. Fixing the shipping container to the
Methods.
shock machine table is most often recommended for safety and
Current edition approved Oct. 10, 1998. Published March 1999. Originally
published as D 5487 – 98. Last previous edition D 5487 – 98.
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Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 15.09.
3 5
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 14.02. Fiedler, Robert M. a
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