ASTM D4003-98(2009)
(Test Method)Standard Test Methods for Programmable Horizontal Impact Test for Shipping Containers and Systems
Standard Test Methods for Programmable Horizontal Impact Test for Shipping Containers and Systems
SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
These test methods provide a measure of a shipping container's ability to protect a product from failure due to horizontal impacts. These measures are based on controlled levels of shock input and may be used for arriving at the optimum design of a container or system to protect a product against a specified level of shipping environment hazard.
These test methods provide a measure of a packaged product's ability to withstand the various levels of shipping environment hazards. These measures may be used to prescribe a mode of shipping and handling that will not induce damage to the packaged product or to define the required levels of protection that must be provided by its packaging.
Test Method A is intended to simulate the rail car coupling environment. Refer to Methods D 5277 for simulating the standard draft gear portion of that environment.
SCOPE
1.1 These test methods are intended to determine the ability of a package or product to withstand laboratory simulated horizontal impact forces.
1.2 The horizontal impacts used in these test methods are programmed shock inputs that represent the hazards as they occur in the shipping and handling environments. The environmental hazards may include rail switching impacts, lift truck marshalling impacts, and so forth. The following test methods apply:
1.2.1 Method A, Rail Car Switching Impact—This test method simulates the types of shock pulses experienced by lading in rail car switching, with the use of a rigid bulkhead on the leading edge of the test carriage, to simulate the end wall of a railcar and shock programming devices to produce representative shock pulses. With the use of backloading, this test method may also be used to simulate compressive forces experienced by lading loads during rail car switching. It is suitable for tests of individual containers or systems as they are shipped in rail cars. It may also be used to evaluate the effectiveness of pallet patterns to determine the effect of interaction between containers during rail switching operation impacts.
1.2.2 Method B, Marshalling Impact Tests of Unit Loads—This test method assesses the ability of unit loads to withstand the forces encountered during marshalling or loading operations.
1.3 The test levels may be varied to represent the mode on shipping and handling used for the item under test.
1.4 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded as standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical conversions to SI units that are provided for information only and are not considered standard.
1.5 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.
General Information
Relations
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: D4003 − 98(Reapproved 2009)
Standard Test Methods for
Programmable Horizontal Impact Test for Shipping
1
Containers and Systems
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D4003; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision.Anumber in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
1.1 These test methods are intended to determine the ability
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
of a package or product to withstand laboratory simulated
horizontal impact forces.
2. Referenced Documents
2
1.2 The horizontal impacts used in these test methods are
2.1 ASTM Standards:
programmed shock inputs that represent the hazards as they
D996Terminology of Packaging and Distribution Environ-
occur in the shipping and handling environments. The envi-
ments
ronmental hazards may include rail switching impacts, lift
D4332Practice for Conditioning Containers, Packages, or
truck marshalling impacts, and so forth. The following test
Packaging Components for Testing
methods apply:
D5277Test Method for Performing Programmed Horizontal
1.2.1 Method A, Rail Car Switching Impact—This test
Impacts Using an Inclined Impact Tester
method simulates the types of shock pulses experienced by
E122PracticeforCalculatingSampleSizetoEstimate,With
ladinginrailcarswitching,withtheuseofarigidbulkheadon
Specified Precision, the Average for a Characteristic of a
theleadingedgeofthetestcarriage,tosimulatetheendwallof
Lot or Process
a railcar and shock programming devices to produce represen-
3. Terminology
tative shock pulses. With the use of backloading, this test
method may also be used to simulate compressive forces
3.1 Definitions—For definitions of terms used in this test
experienced by lading loads during rail car switching. It is
method, see Terminology D996.
suitablefortestsofindividualcontainersorsystemsastheyare
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
shipped in rail cars. It may also be used to evaluate the
3.2.1 acceleration—the rate of change of velocity of a body
effectiveness of pallet patterns to determine the effect of
2 2
with respect to time measured in in./s (m/s ).
interaction between containers during rail switching operation
3.2.2 backload—a duplicate specimen similar to the test
impacts.
packageorweightstosimulatetheotherladinginthetransport
1.2.2 Method B, Marshalling Impact Tests of Unit Loads—
vehicle.
This test method assesses the ability of unit loads to withstand
the forces encountered during marshalling or loading opera-
3.2.3 shock pulse—a substantial disturbance characterized
tions.
by a rise of acceleration from a constant value and decay of
acceleration to the constant value in a short period of time.
1.3 The test levels may be varied to represent the mode on
shipping and handling used for the item under test.
3.2.4 shock pulse programmer—a device to control the
parameters of the acceleration versus time-shock pulse gener-
1.4 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded
ated by a shock test impact machine.
as standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical
conversions to SI units that are provided for information only 3.2.5 velocity change—the sum of the impact velocity and
and are not considered standard. reboundvelocity(theareaundertheacceleration—timecurve).
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the
4. Significance and Use
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
4.1 These test methods provide a measure of a shipping
container’s ability to protect a product from failure due to
1
These test methods are under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D10 on
Packaging and are the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D10.21 on Shipping
2
Containers and Systems - Application of Performance Test Methods. For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
Current edition approved March 1, 2009. Published March 2009. Originally contactASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. ForAnnual Book ofASTM
approved in 1981. Last previous edition approved in 2003 as D4003–98(2003). Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
DOI: 10.1520/D4003-98R09. the ASTM website.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1
---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
D4003 − 98 (2009)
horizontal impacts. These measures are based on controlled products impacting against them. This will necessitate suffi-
levels of shock input and may
...
Questions, Comments and Discussion
Ask us and Technical Secretary will try to provide an answer. You can facilitate discussion about the standard in here.