Measuring and Quantifying Mechanical Shock

What do we mean by the word, “shock”? Dictionaries have many definitions for this English word. WWW WEBSTER on-line, definition 2a, seems closest. 2a: a violent shake or jar: concussion. Other languages have more specialized words. In Italian, for example, “scossa” is electrical shock, while “urto” is mechanical shock.

Vibration is ongoing, whereas mechanical shock is relatively brief, as we will see. Mechanical shock has something in common with random vibration, however: both excite many resonances, as we know from previously viewing that multi-reed tachometer.


28.1 What is shock? How different from vibration?

28.2 Shock excites all resonances

28.3 Instrumentation: equipment limitations

28.4 “Fairing” a shock pulse

28.5 Choosing a shock accelerometer

28.6 High frequency filter cut-off effects

28.7 Low frequency filter cut-off effects

28.8 Accelerometer limitations

28.9 Over-ranging

28.10 Factory shock

28.11 Laser measurement of displacement

28.12 Pyroshock

28.13 Accelerometer mounting

28.14 Accelerometer cable

28.15 Windowing

28.16 Inexpensive shock recorders

28.17 Mechanical shock time history recorder

28.18 Accelerometer-based recorders

28.19 Concealable recorders

28.20 Shock calibration

28.21 Hopkinson bar shock calibration