C h a p t e r 3
Hazards include those that are not
visible but have a measurable impact
on the reliability of any device. Unlike
the expected presence of chemicals or
moisture in some applications, these
hazards cannot be truly quantified until a
piece of equipment is in use. Therefore,
they demand that the designer plans
carefully to fully mitigate their dangers.
Shock and Vibration
Many devices must withstand
constant shock and vibration during
their operational lifespan. While this
requirement may be expected in
automotive and aerospace applications,
vibration is also common in industrial
machinery devices. Shock and vibration
are hazards with both immediate and
long-term effects.
Short-term consequences include
accidental disconnection of equipment.
Long-term damage is harder to identify.
Vibration causes individual components
to rub together, causing significant
damage over time, including wearing down
of protective or conductive coatings and
physical damage to components such as
electrical contacts. In turn, issues ranging
UNSEEN HAZARDS –
SHOCK, VIBRATION, AND
ELECTROMAGNETISM
Rahul SreeKumar
Senior Engineer, Nordex Group
One of the conditions we design for
is extreme temperatures, which can
lead to thermal stress, vibration,
and shock. These factors can loosen
connections and result in fatigue
failure of critical components."
15
Understanding Harsh Environments for Electronic Design
