SIMULATE / STIMULATE

Hello, Steve -

Since most of your hardware is in fixed locations such as a house or a building, don't think of vibration as an environmental test. You don't need to SIMULATE the real world. Unless you're concerned with earthquakes.

But random vibration to STIMULATE failures, to find possible design or manufacturing weaknesses, potential failures, is a good idea. Definitely random, to excite all resonances simultaneously, rather than swept sine which excites resonances sequentially.

I'd also suggest that the vibration be multiaxis, rather than first X, then Y, then Z.

How severe? I suggest some experimenting at one of the HALT/HASS labs listed at http://www.equipment-reliability.com/link.htm#HALT/HASSlabs. Gradually increase intensity until something fails. Analyze the failure and strengthen your product. Chapter 25 in my 2005 text described at http://www.vibrationandshock.com/book.htm will explain the HALT/HASS philosophy.

Best wishes,

Wayne