What’s up with Bump Testing ?

By: Jack D. Peters

Connection Technology Center, Inc
590 Fishers Station Drive
Victor, New York 14564
(585) 924-5900 x834
www.ctconline.com
 Bump Testing

What is a bump test ?

¾A bump test is the measured response of

an impact to an object.
¾The force of the impact is not controlled
or measured.
¾The response of the object is not
controlled, BUT IS MEASURED.
¾A single channel response
measurement.
Jack D. Peters 2
 Bump Testing

Why do a bump test ?

¾To excite and measure the natural

frequency(s) of an object.
9To identify a resonance
9To understand a change in mass
9To understand a change in stiffness
9To understand a change in damping

Jack D. Peters 3
Bump Testing

How does it work ?

Fundamental 1
2nd Harmonic 1
3rd Harmonic 1
4th Harmonic 1
5th Harmonic 1
10th Harmonic 1
20th Harmonic 1
50th Harmonic 1
100th Harmonic 1
Bump 1
8
V

Real

-8
0 s 1.999023 s

Jack D. Peters 4
Bump Testing

Sine Waves ?
Fundamental 1
Empty
Empty
Empty
Empty
Empty
Empty
Empty
Empty
Empty
0.1
V

Real

-0.1
0 s 1.999023 s

Jack D. Peters 5
Bump Testing

Bumps from Sine Waves ?

Time Record 1
8
V

Real

-8
0 s 1.999023 s

Time Record 1
0.1
V

Real

-0.1
0 s 1.999023 s

Jack D. Peters 6
Bump Testing

100th Harmonic

Fundamental 1
2nd Harmonic 1
3rd Harmonic 1
4th Harmonic 1
5th Harmonic 1
10th Harmonic 1
20th Harmonic 1
50th Harmonic 1
100th Harmonic 1
Bump 1
8
V

Real

-8
0 s 1.999023 s

Jack D. Peters 7
Bump Testing

50th Harmonic

Fundamental 1
2nd Harmonic 1
3rd Harmonic 1
4th Harmonic 1
5th Harmonic 1
10th Harmonic 1
20th Harmonic 1
50th Harmonic 1
Bump 1
Fundamental 1
4
V

Real

-4
0 s 1.999023 s

Jack D. Peters 8
Bump Testing

20th Harmonic

Fundamental 1
2nd Harmonic 1
3rd Harmonic 1
4th Harmonic 1
5th Harmonic 1
10th Harmonic 1
20th Harmonic 1
Bump 1
Empty
Empty
2
V

Real

-2
0 s 1.999023 s

Jack D. Peters 9
Bump Testing

10th Harmonic

Fundamental 1
2nd Harmonic 1
3rd Harmonic 1
4th Harmonic 1
5th Harmonic 1
10th Harmonic 1
Bump 1
Empty
Empty
Empty
1
V

Real

-1
0 s 1.999023 s

Jack D. Peters 10
Bump Testing

5th Harmonic

Fundamental 1
2nd Harmonic 1
3rd Harmonic 1
4th Harmonic 1
5th Harmonic 1
Bump 1
Empty
Empty
Empty
Empty
0.5
V

Real

-0.5
0 s 1.999023 s

Jack D. Peters 11
Bump Testing

4th Harmonic

Fundamental 1
2nd Harmonic 1
3rd Harmonic 1
4th Harmonic 1
Bump 1
Empty
Empty
Empty
Empty
Empty
0.4
V

Real

-0.4
0 s 1.999023 s

Jack D. Peters 12
Bump Testing

3rd Harmonic

Fundametal 1
2nd Harmonic 1
3rd harmonic 1
Bump 1
Empty
Empty
Empty
Empty
Empty
Empty
0.3
V

Real

-0.3
0 s 1.999023 s

Jack D. Peters 13
Bump Testing

2nd Harmonic

Fundamental 1
2nd Harmonic 1
Bump 1
Empty
Empty
Empty
Empty
Empty
Empty
Empty
0.2
V

Real

-0.2
0 s 1.999023 s

Jack D. Peters 14
Bump Testing

Fundamental

Fundamental 1
Empty
Empty
Empty
Empty
Empty
Empty
Empty
Empty
Empty
0.1
V

Real

-0.1
0 s 1.999023 s

Jack D. Peters 15
Bump Testing

2nd Harmonic

Fundamental 1
2nd Harmonic 1
Bump 1
Empty
Empty
Empty
Empty
Empty
Empty
Empty
0.2
V

Real

-0.2
0 s 1.999023 s

Jack D. Peters 16
Bump Testing

3rd Harmonic

Fundametal 1
2nd Harmonic 1
3rd harmonic 1
Bump 1
Empty
Empty
Empty
Empty
Empty
Empty
0.3
V

Real

-0.3
0 s 1.999023 s

Jack D. Peters 17
Bump Testing

4th Harmonic

Fundamental 1
2nd Harmonic 1
3rd Harmonic 1
4th Harmonic 1
Bump 1
Empty
Empty
Empty
Empty
Empty
0.4
V

Real

-0.4
0 s 1.999023 s

Jack D. Peters 18
Bump Testing

5th Harmonic

Fundamental 1
2nd Harmonic 1
3rd Harmonic 1
4th Harmonic 1
5th Harmonic 1
Bump 1
Empty
Empty
Empty
Empty
0.5
V

Real

-0.5
0 s 1.999023 s

Jack D. Peters 19
Bump Testing

10th Harmonic

Fundamental 1
2nd Harmonic 1
3rd Harmonic 1
4th Harmonic 1
5th Harmonic 1
10th Harmonic 1
Bump 1
Empty
Empty
Empty
1
V

Real

-1
0 s 1.999023 s

Jack D. Peters 20
Bump Testing

20th Harmonic

Fundamental 1
2nd Harmonic 1
3rd Harmonic 1
4th Harmonic 1
5th Harmonic 1
10th Harmonic 1
20th Harmonic 1
Bump 1
Empty
Empty
2
V

Real

-2
0 s 1.999023 s

Jack D. Peters 21
Bump Testing

50th Harmonic

Fundamental 1
2nd Harmonic 1
3rd Harmonic 1
4th Harmonic 1
5th Harmonic 1
10th Harmonic 1
20th Harmonic 1
50th Harmonic 1
Bump 1
Fundamental 1
4
V

Real

-4
0 s 1.999023 s

Jack D. Peters 22
Bump Testing

100th Harmonic

Fundamental 1
2nd Harmonic 1
3rd Harmonic 1
4th Harmonic 1
5th Harmonic 1
10th Harmonic 1
20th Harmonic 1
50th Harmonic 1
100th Harmonic 1
Bump 1
8
V

Real

-8
0 s 1.999023 s

Jack D. Peters 23
 Bump Testing

How does it work ?

¾Bump testing or impact testing works

because the bump or impact contains all
of the individual frequencies or sign
waves.
¾When you bump or impact the object
under test, you will excite all of the
natural frequencies of that object.

Jack D. Peters 24
 Bump Testing

What do you impact with ?

¾ Pin Drops ! ¾ Cow Plops !

9 High frequency 9 Low frequency
content content
9 Low energy value 9 High energy value

Jack D. Peters 25
 Bump Testing

Energy Value vs. Frequency

¾ The item used to deliver the impact to the

object under test will determine the energy that
is delivered to the object.
9 Large objects with considerable mass should be
impacted with rubber or wood. This will generate
high energy low frequency responses. (cow plops)
9 Small objects with considerable stiffness should be
impacted with metal or hard plastics. This will
generate low energy high frequency responses.
(pin drops)

Jack D. Peters 26
 Bump Testing

Set-up

¾UNIFORM WINDOW
¾ Take your time – Bump around
¾ Do not over range or clip the input signal
¾ 800 – 1600 lines of resolution
¾ Try some different frequency spans
¾ Only 1 bump for each time record
¾ About 4 averages (depends on noise)

Jack D. Peters 27
Bump Testing

Why the Uniform Window ?

Jack D. Peters 28
 Bump Testing

What to Bump ?

¾ 1” diameter steel round stock

¾ 36” length
¾ Clamped in “V” blocks at each end
¾ CTC AC140 accelerometer stud mounted
on center (100 mV/g)

Jack D. Peters 29
Bump Testing

Bump It ! Two Responses !

X:23.4375 ms Y:1.63297 G Time Waveform

dX:76.17188 ms dY:-1.36474 G
Time Record 1 TIME4.63
2
G

Real

-2
0 s 1 s

X:58.75 Hz Y:8.550765 mG Frequency Spectrum

X:65.5 Hz Y:12.23725 mG
X:70.75 Hz Y:8.475402 mG
Auto Pwr Spec 1 HZ4.63
0.015
G
rms

Real

0
0 Hz 100 Hz

Jack D. Peters 30
Bump Testing

Mental Health Check !

X:23.4375 ms Y:1.63297 G Time Waveform

dX:76.17188 ms dY:-1.36474 G
Time Record 1 TIME4.63
2
G 76.17 msec/5 = 15.23 msec
Real

-2
0 s
F = 1/0.01523 sec = 65.64 Hz 1 s

X:58.75 Hz Y:8.550765 mG Frequency Spectrum

X:65.5 Hz Y:12.23725 mG
X:70.75 Hz Y:8.475402 mG
Auto Pwr Spec 1 HZ4.63

65.5 Hz
0.015
G
rms

Real

0
0 Hz 100 Hz

Jack D. Peters 31
Case History

CASE HISTORY

Bumps in the Road !

Jack D. Peters 32
Case History

So Easy !!!!!!

Time Record 1 Time Waveform TIME3.63

4.5
G

Real

-4.5
0 s 3.998047 s

X:109 Hz Y:539.6552 mG Frequency Spectrum

Auto Pwr Spec 1 HZ3.63
0.6
G
rms
109 Hz
Real

0
0 Hz 200 Hz

Jack D. Peters 33
Case History

Zoom

X:164.0625 ms Y:1.379613 G
dX:554.6875 ms dY:-729.2974 mG Time Waveform
Time Record 1 TIME1.63
2
G

Real

-2
0 s 8 s

X:109.125 Hz Y:214.7374 mG Frequency Spectrum

Auto Pwr Spec 1 HZ1.63
0.3
G
rms

Real
109.125 Hz

0
50.00001 Hz 150 Hz

Jack D. Peters 34
Case History

Zoom & Mental Health Check

X:164.0625 ms Y:1.379613 G
dX:554.6875 ms dY:-729.2974 mG Time Waveform
Time Record 1 TIME1.63
2
G
554 msec/5 = 110.8 msec
What
Real

-2
F = 1/0.1108 sec = 9.02 Hz
0 s 8 s
the
X:109.125 Hz Y:214.7374 mG Frequency Spectrum
Auto Pwr Spec 1 HZ1.63
0.3
G He_ _ !
rms

Real 109.125 Hz
0
50.00001 Hz 150 Hz

Jack D. Peters 35
Case History

So Easy ??????

Time Record 1 Time Waveform TIME3.63

4.5
G

Real

-4.5
0 s 3.998047 s

X:109 Hz Y:539.6552 mG Frequency Spectrum

Auto Pwr Spec 1 HZ3.63
0.6
G
rms
109 Hz
Real

0
0 Hz 200 Hz

Jack D. Peters 36
Case History

What’s This ?

Time Record 1 Time Waveform TIME3.63

4.5
G

Real

-4.5
0 s 3.998047 s

X:109 Hz Y:539.6552 mG Frequency Spectrum

Auto Pwr Spec 1 HZ3.63
0.6
G

????
rms

109 Hz
Real

0
0 Hz 200 Hz

Jack D. Peters 37
 Case History

Log – Can’t Live With It, Can’t Live Without It !

Time Record 1 Time Waveform TIME3.63

4.5
G

Real

-4.5
0 s 3.998047 s

X:11 Hz Y:12.05162 mG
X:109 Hz Y:539.6552 mG Frequency Spectrum
Auto Pwr Spec 1 HZ3.63

109 Hz
1

11 Hz
G
rms

Mag (Log)
Log "Y" Scale
1E-05
0 Hz 200 Hz

Jack D. Peters 38
Case History

0 – 50 Hz Span

Time Record 1 Time Waveform TIME2.63

0.4
G

Real

-0.4
0 s 15.99219 s

X:10.8125 Hz Y:2.774957 mG Frequency Spectrum

Auto Pwr Spec 1 HZ2.63
0.008
G
rms

Magnitude
10.81 Hz

0
0 Hz 50 Hz

Jack D. Peters 39
Case History

0 - 50 Hz (expanded “x” scale)

X:148.4375 ms Y:152.3216 mG Time Waveform

dX:460.9375 ms dY:-131.8069 mG
Time Record 1 TIME2.63
0.4
G
460.9 msec/5 = 92.18 msec
Real

-0.4
F = 1/0.09218 sec = 10.84 Hz
0 s 4 s

X:10.8125 Hz Y:2.774957 mG Frequency Spectrum

Auto Pwr Spec 1 HZ2.63
0.008
G
rms

Magnitude
10.81 Hz

0
0 Hz 50 Hz

Jack D. Peters 40
Bump Testing

Back to Bump Testing

X:23.4375 ms Y:1.63297 G Time Waveform

dX:76.17188 ms dY:-1.36474 G
Time Record 1 TIME4.63
2
G 76.17 msec/5 = 15.23 msec
Real

-2
F = 1/0.01523 sec = 65.64 Hz
0 s 1 s

X:58.75 Hz Y:8.550765 mG Frequency Spectrum

X:65.5 Hz Y:12.23725 mG
X:70.75 Hz Y:8.475402 mG
Auto Pwr Spec 1 HZ4.63

65.5 Hz
0.015
G
rms

Real

0
0 Hz 100 Hz

Jack D. Peters 41
 Amplification Factor

Using the Time Waveform

X:23.4375 ms Y:1.63297 G Time Waveform
X:99.60938 ms Y:268.2297 mG
Time Record 1 TIME4.63
2
G A0 = 1.633 G F = 1/0.01523 sec = 65.64 Hz
An = 0.268 G
Real
n = 5 cycles
-2 LN = natural log
0 s 1 s

Log decrement = [1/n[LN(A0/An)]] = [1/5[LN(1.633/0.268)]] = 0.36

Damping ratio = Log dec/2Pi = 0.36/2Pi = 0.36/6.28 = 0.057
Amplification factor = 1/(2*Damping) = 1/(2*0.057) = 8.68

Jack D. Peters 42
 Amplification Factor

Using the Spectrum

X:58.75 Hz Y:8.550765 mG Frequency Spectrum

X:65.5 Hz Y:12.23725 mG
X:70.75 Hz Y:8.475402 mG
Auto Pwr Spec 1 HZ4.63
0.015 F = 65.5 Hz
G
rms f1 = 58.75 Hz f2 = 70.75 Hz
Real

0
-3dB
0 Hz 100 Hz

Find the –3dB points = AF * .707 = 12.24 mG * .707 = 8.65 mG

Find the frequencies at the –3dB points (f1 and f2)
Amplification factor = F/ (f2 - f1) = 65.5/(70.75 – 58.75) = 5.46

Jack D. Peters 43
 Mass & Stiffness

Fn = 1/2Pi k/m

¿INCREASE the ¿INCREASE the

stiffness ( k ) mass ( m )

¿INCREASE the ÀDECREASE the

frequency (F) frequency ( F )

Jack D. Peters 44
Damping

Control the Response

Un-Damped

Damped

Jack D. Peters 45
 Bump Testing

Summary

¾ Take your time ¾ Do a mental health

¾ Choose your check
weapon ¾ Calculate the
¾ Bump around amplification factor
¾ Uniform Window ¾ Change the mass
¾ Look at the time ¾ Change the stiffness
waveform
¾ Look at the ¾ Add damping
frequency spectrum ¾ Bump around
Jack D. Peters 46
Thank You !

Thank You !

You can find technical papers on

this and other subjects at
www.ctconline.com
in the “Technical
Resources” section

Jack D. Peters 47