AECTP 400 MECHANICAL ENVIRONMENTAL TESTS

1 AECTP 400 (Edition 3) i ORIGINAL AECTP 400 MECHANICAL ENVIRONMENTAL TESTS (January 2006) AECTP 400 (Edition 3) ii ORIGINAL INTENTIONALLY BLANK AECTP 400 (Edition 3) iii ORIGINAL NORTH ATLANTIC TREATY ORGANIZATION NATO STANDARDISATION AGENCY (NSA) NATO LETTER OF PROMULGATION 18 May 2006 1. AECTP 400 (Edition 3) MECHANICAL ENVIRONMENTAL TESTS is a NATO/PFP UNCLASSIFIED publication. The agreement of nations to use this publication is recorded in STANAG 4370. 2. AECTP 400 (Edition 3) is effective upon receipt. It supersedes AECTP 400 (Edition 2) which shall be destroyed in accordace with the local procedure for the destruction of documents.

2 J. MAJ Brigadier General, POL(A) Director, NSA AECTP 400 (Edition 3) iv ORIGINAL INTENTIONALLY BLANK AECTP 400 (Edition 3) v ORIGINAL ALLIED ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS AND TEST PUBLICATIONS AECTP 400 MECHANICAL ENVIRONMENTAL TESTS AECTP 400 is one of five documents included in STANAG 4370. It is important for users to note that the content of AECTP 400 is not intended to be used in isolation, but is developed to be used in conjunction with the other four AECTP to apply the ENVIRONMENTAL Project Tailoring process. This process ensures that materiel is designed, developed and tested to requirements that are directly derived from the anticipated service use conditions.

3 It is particularly important that AECTP 400 is used in conjunction with AECTP 100 which addresses strategy, planning and implementation of ENVIRONMENTAL tasks, and AECTP 200 which provides information on the characteristics of environments and guidelines on the selection of test methods. The test methods contained herein together with associated assessments are believed to provide the basis for a reasonable verification of the materiel's resistance to the effects of the specific MECHANICAL environments. However, it should be noted that the test methods are intended to reproduce the effects of relevant environments and do not necessarily duplicate the actual ENVIRONMENTAL conditions.

4 Where possible, guidance on the limitations of the intended applications is provided. The use of measured data for the generation of test severities is recommended if available. AECTP 400 Test Methods address MECHANICAL environments, both individually and when combined with other environments, such as climatic environments included in AECTP 300. The application of combined environments is relevant and often necessary where failures could be expected from potential synergistic effects. In developing a test programme, consideration is to be given to the anticipated life cycle of the materiel and to the changes in resistance of the materiel caused by the long term exposure to the various MECHANICAL environments.

5 The ENVIRONMENTAL conditions included by the appropriate materiel platforms are also to be accommodated. Guidance on these aspects and information on the characteristics of environments is provided in AECTP 200. Guidelines for the planning and implementation of ENVIRONMENTAL tasks are given in AECTP 100. AECTP 400 was not developed specifically to cover the following applications, but in some cases they may be applied : a. Weapon effects, other than EMP, b. Munitions safety TESTS covering abnormal environments, c. Packaging testing, d. Suitability of clothing or fabric items intended for military use, e. ENVIRONMENTAL stress screening (ESS) methods and procedures.

6 AECTP 400 (Edition 3) vi ORIGINAL The enclosed list of AECTP 400 Test Methods reflects those currently developed and completed. It is not comprehensive in that it will be revised as other methods are developed. The methods listed are not to be applied indiscriminately, but rather selected for application as required. AECTP 400 (Edition 3) vii ORIGINAL INDEX METHOD TITLE PAGE 401 402 403 404 405 406 407 408 409 410 411 412 413 414 415 416 417 418 419 420 421 422 VIBRATION ACOUSTIC NOISE CLASSICAL WAVEFORM SHOCK CONSTANT ACCELERATION GUNFIRE LOOSE CARGO MATERIEL TIEDOWN LARGE ASSEMBLY TRANSPORT MATERIEL LIFTING MATERIEL STACKING MATERIEL BENDING MATERIEL RACKING ACOUSTIC NOISE COMBINED WITH TEMPERATURE AND VIBRATION HANDLING PYROSHOCK RAIL IMPACT SRS SHOCK MOTION PLATFORM UNDEX BUFFET VIBRATION MULTI-EXCITER VIBRATION AND SHOCK TESTING BALLISTIC SHOCK 1 85 105 121 131 201 215 221 229 239 247 255 261 281 293 335 341 399 407 471 497 515 AECTP 400 (Edition 3)

7 Viii ORIGINAL INTENTIONALLY BLANK AECTP 400 (Edition 3) METHOD 401 1 ORIGINAL METHOD 401 VIBRATION TABLE OF CONTENTS Page 1 5 Purpose .. 5 Application .. 5 Limitations .. 5 2 TEST GUIDANCE .. 5 Effects of the 5 Use of Measured 5 Sequence .. 6 Choice of Test 6 Types of 6 Swept Frequency Sinusoidal Vibration .. 7 Fixed Frequency Sinusoidal Vibration .. 7 Wideband Random Vibration .. 7 Fixed Frequency Narrowband Random Vibration .. 7 Swept Narrowband Random 8 Fixed Frequency Sinusoidal Vibration on Wideband Random .. Vibration.

8 8 Swept Frequency Sinusoidal Vibration on Wideband Random 8 Fixed Frequency Narrowband Random Vibration on Wideband Random 11 Swept Frequency Narrowband Random Vibration on Wideband Random 11 Control Strategy and 11 Strategy .. 11 Single Point Control 12 Multiple Point Control (average) Option .. 12 Multiple Point Control (maximum) Option .. 12 Materiel Operation .. 13 3 SEVERITIES .. 13 General .. 13 AECTP 400 (Edition 3) METHOD 401 2 ORIGINAL Supporting Assessment ..13 Isolation System .. 13 Subsystems .. 13 4 INFORMATION TO BE PROVIDED IN THE TEST INSTRUCTION .. 13 Compulsory .. 13 If Required.

9 14 5 TEST CONDITIONS AND 14 Tolerances and Related Characteristics .. 14 Sinusoidal Vibration .. 14 Random Vibration .. 16 Complex Vibration .. 17 Installation Conditions of Test 18 18 Test 18 Specific platform .. 19 Test Preparation .. 19 Pre-conditioning .. 20 Operational Checks .. 20 20 20 Procedure I - Swept Frequency Sinusoidal 20 Procedure II - Fixed Frequency Sinusoidal Vibration .. 21 Procedure III - Random Vibration or Complex Vibration .. 21 Procedure IV - Random Vibration (Stores) .. 21 6 EVALUATION OF TEST RESULTS .. 22 7 REFERENCES AND RELATED DOCUMENTS.

10 22 ANNEX A WHEELED VEHICLE VIBRATION - GUIDANCE FOR INITIAL TEST SEVERITY Wheeled Vehicle Test Figure/Table Page Ground Wheeled Common Carrier Figure A-1 25 Tactical Wheeled Vehicle All Terrain Figure A-2 27 Two Wheel Trailer Figure A-3 30 AECTP 400 (Edition 3) METHOD 401 3 ORIGINAL ANNEX B TRACKED VEHICLE VIBRATION - GUIDANCE FOR INITIAL TEST SEVERITY Tracked Vehicle Test Figure/Table Page Materiel Transported as Secured Cargo Figure B-1 35 Materiel in Turret Bustle Rack or Installed In Turret Figure B-2 38 Heavy Vehicle Materiel on Sponson or Installed in Hull Figure B-3 41 Light Vehicle Materiel on Sponson or Installed in Hull Figure B-4 44 ANNEX C FIXED WING AIRCRAFT VIBRATION - GUIDANCE FOR INITIAL TEST SEVERITY Fixed Wing Aircraft Test