In modern engineering applications, product performance is no longer evaluated solely based on static strength. Instead, dynamic behavior under real operating conditions has become a decisive factor. Vibration and shock loads, in particular, play a critical role in determining the reliability, durability, and safety of mechanical, structural, and electronic systems.
In this article, we discuss how vibration and shock loads affect product performance, how shock and vibration analyses performed with ANSYS contribute to the design process, and why proper isolator selection is essential for robust and reliable designs.
Vibration refers to the time-dependent, repetitive oscillatory motion of a system subjected to dynamic loads. Rotating machinery, motor-driven systems, vehicles, and industrial equipment are among the most common applications exposed to vibration.
Typical effects of vibration include:
Fatigue damage and crack initiation
Loosening of fasteners
Failures in electronic boards and solder joints
Noise and comfort issues
Loss of precision in sensitive components
Shock loads are characterized by high acceleration levels applied over a very short time interval. Impacts, drops, sudden stops, and blast effects fall into this category.
Common consequences of shock loads are:
Local plastic deformation
Sudden fractures
Permanent damage at mounting points
Functional failure of components
Shock loads are especially critical in defense, automotive, and transportation-related applications, where safety and reliability are paramount.
Vibration and shock loads influence not only structural strength but also:
Mass distribution
Stiffness characteristics
Damping behavior
Together, these parameters define the dynamic response of a system. A design that appears safe under static loading may fail rapidly when subjected to dynamic effects.
Designs that neglect vibration and shock considerations often result in:
Unexpected field failures
Increased maintenance and warranty costs
Certification and compliance issues
ANSYS provides industry-standard solutions for accurately predicting dynamic behavior under vibration and shock loads. These analyses enable engineers to numerically evaluate how a product will behave under real operating conditions.
Modal analysis is used to determine:
Natural frequencies
Mode shapes
Critical dynamic regions
If operating frequencies coincide with natural frequencies, resonance occurs, leading to rapidly increasing vibration amplitudes and potential failure. Modal analysis forms the foundation for all subsequent dynamic analyses.
Harmonic analysis evaluates the steady-state response of a system subjected to sinusoidal excitation. It is widely used for motor-driven and rotating machinery.
This analysis provides:
Frequency–response relationships
Identification of resonance zones
Stress and displacement amplification regions
In real-world environments, vibration inputs are often random and broadband in nature. Random vibration analysis statistically represents these conditions using Power Spectral Density (PSD) functions.
This approach is particularly important for defense, aerospace, and transportation applications, where compliance with industry and military standards is required.
Shock analysis focuses on the system response to impact, drop, or sudden acceleration events. ANSYS Explicit Dynamics and LS-DYNA are commonly used to simulate:
High-speed loading
Large deformations
Complex contact interactions
These tools allow engineers to assess structural integrity under extreme transient conditions.
Vibration and shock cannot be completely eliminated, but they can be effectively controlled and mitigated. Isolators play a key role in reducing the transmission of dynamic energy to sensitive components.
Proper isolator selection must consider:
Natural frequency of the isolated system
Load-carrying capacity
Damping ratio
Operating temperature and mounting conditions
These parameters should be verified through ANSYS simulations.
Incorrect isolator selection may:
Fail to reduce vibration levels
Introduce new resonance frequencies
Increase the vulnerability of the system
By integrating shock and vibration analyses into the design process, engineers can:
Extend product service life
Reduce maintenance and failure costs
Improve safety and reliability
Accelerate certification processes
Identify and eliminate design risks before production
Vibration and shock loads are critical dynamic factors that directly affect product performance and should never be overlooked. Shock and vibration analyses performed with ANSYS, combined with proper isolator engineering, result in designs that are not only functional but also safe, durable, and ready for real-world operation.
FE-TECH İleri Mühendislik delivers reliable and validated engineering solutions for defense, automotive, machinery, and industrial applications through advanced ANSYS-based simulation capabilities.