For those new to vibration testing, the vast knowledge on the subject can be overwhelming. Some basic information to get you started can go a long way, which is why we’ve outlined five things you should know about the basic vibration tests: sine, random, and shock.

Instruments produce musical tones through a variety of means. For woodwinds, air is blown into a vibrating column that comprises the body of the instrument. Instrumentalists can adjust the column’s length to adjust the fundamental frequency of the vibration. Guitars, pianos, and string instruments are similar in that they have strings pulled taut between two fixed locations. The string is excited and oscillates in a stable pattern at its fundamental frequency.

Many products will experience shock vibration during shipping and handling or in use. These shocks may be infrequent, such as an accidental drop or repetitive, as with transportation over rough road conditions. Vibration test engineers use shock testing to simulate these conditions in the lab and confirm the structural integrity of the device.