Applus+ Reliable Analysis (USA) further expands its vibration testing capabilities with a brand-new Tri-Axis Quiet Shaker

The Applus+ Reliable Analysis (RA) team have continued their investment drive for next-generation test equipment at their Madison Heights base. Going another step further in offering unique testing solutions to improve and validate their clients’ components, the addition of the Tri-Axis Shaker, as with the autonomous door slam test bench, gives the lab a unique capability in the automotive hotbed around Detroit.

Cutting-edge tech for next-level analysis

Sticking to their speciality for performing tests under conditions as true to real life as physically possible, the new shaker operates under various vibration profiles (including random, sine and shock) so it can accurately simulate different terrains and road surfaces.

The Tri-Axial shaker is also known as the XYZ shaker as it analyzes sound in all three cardinal directions (X, Y and Z). The shaker itself is virtually silent due to its permanent magnet design, and it is specifically constructed for acute detection and characterization of any BSR sounds which don’t conform to OEM specs.

The shaker can support far heavier components and assemblies than the shakers of our competitors, and it allows the Applus+ RA team to test and analyze for longer periods of time too. Not only will it be used to detect the very slightest of noises (of less than 28 dB(A)), but also to characterize the root sources of those noises so we can advise on how best to ratify issues.

Compatible with a wide variety of automotive components and assemblies, the shaker’s large bare table can also be used for medical devices and consumer electronics.

Building on the collection

The X-Y-Z shaker adds to an already extensive fleet of next-generation vibration test machines at the Michigan lab. The team have several electrodynamic shakers at their disposal, which operate from within custom-designed climatic chambers. Fitted with electric lifts for use with components of varying physical configurations, these chambers allow tests to be performed at temperatures between -60°C and 175°C, with controlled humidity if required.

The lab is also equipped with various Multi-Axial Simulation Tables (MASTs), which link up with Applus+ RA’s proprietary software.  While the vibration frequencies are lower with this kind of testing, MASTs allow all three axes of movement to be simulated, as well as pitch and roll. These simulation tables are also enclosed within environmental chambers, with sun loading available too, and are used in accelerated life cycle testing for a variety of industries. Payloads (supported weights) for the MAST tables exceed several hundred pounds and road load or recorded data can be brought to RA for analysis and conversion to be able to simulate on these tables with utmost accuracy.