Elastic Support of

Test Stands and

Testing Equipment

Elastic Support of Test Stands and

Testing Equipment

Test stands and other testing equipment

are being used worldwide to study dynamic
behaviours. Tests are run continuously
with periodic excitations, as well as with
shock or impulse excitations.
Typical examples of such test stands are
shaking tables used for earthquake
simulation that can emulate both horizontal
and vertical ground motions. These tables
are also used to test nuclear reactor
components and prototypes of equipment
to verify the functional safety of their design
under seismic and similar loads.
Currently, the largest shaking table of this
type in Europe supported on GERB springs
is operated by the Department of Aerospace
Structures at the Technical University
Aachen, Germany (see picture on the next
page).
This test stand consisting of a shaking table
in steel lattice construction is designed
for dynamic testing of objects with a dead
load of up to 25 metric tons. A hydraulic
system excites the table both in vertical and
horizontal directions.

The use of GERB elements, which isolate

both structure-borne noise and vibrations,
permits accurate calculation of horizontal
and vertical natural frequencies of the test
stand or equipment. Vertical natural
frequencies as low as 1 Hz can easily be
achieved and therefore horizontal and
rocking frequencies will even be lower.
To reduce shock excited amplitudes quickly
and to avoid major amplifications of
periodic excitations when operating near
the resonance speed, GERB spring units
are often combined with Viscodamper s.
When properly designed, the GERB system
even allows the test stand to operate at
resonance frequencies.
GERB Viscodamper s are viscoelastic
dampers effective in all degrees of freedom
with damping forces proportional to the
relative velocity between damper upper part
(piston) and lower part (damper box).
Spring elements and Viscodamper s can
be designed for optimal use in a wide range
of applications.

The seismic foundation block with a weight

of 1,360 tons is elastically supported by
GERB spring elements and Viscodamper s.
The type of vibration excitation is the basic
factor for the design of the elastic support
system and its dynamic properties.
This support system is designed so that
the slightest vibrations transmitted from
the test stand do not disturb sensitive
experiments within a 20m radius nor nearby
personnel.

Spring-Viscodamper Unit

In the same way other kinds of test stands

(e.g. for axles, motors, hydraulic systems)
can be elastically mounted. Test stands for
the automotive industry are particularly
challenging as entire vehicles are rigorously
shaken on modern hydropulse systems in
a test room.
As test stands are usually located near
sensitive measuring and analyzing
equipment, vibration isolation is extremely
important.
Prestressable spring elements allow easy
adjustment of the test stand and also later
readjustment in the event test conditions
and loads are significantly altered.
Spring elements in most cases are secured
in place with GERB adhesive pads, so no
anchor bolts are necessary.

The most important advantages of elastic support systems

for test stands and other testing equipment are:
Little or no transmission of vibration
and structure-borne noise into the
surroundings.

Protection of operators and other

personnel from annoying vibrations.

Optimal balance between vibration

excitation and test stand capabilities.

An abridged reference list mentions only a

few of the many test stands and other testing
equipment elastically supported by GERB.
For design, engineering and technical
consultation, please contact GERB at an
office closest to you. For adresses,
please visit our website www.gerb.de.

Easy installation of both the GERB

elements and the test stand.

Easy alignment and adjustment of the test

stand.

Reduced foundation cost with direct

spring support, e.g. elements may be
installed below a mounting plate.

1. Shake table 5 x5 m
2. Spring unit and Viscodamper
7. Compressed gas rack
8. Hydraulic supply

3. Foundation pit

4. Foundation block

5. Vertical cylinder

6. Horizontal cylinder

100 MN Tensile testing machine MPA Stuttgart

Shaking table for earthquake simulation Juelich,

Technical University Aachen

Elastic Support of Test Stands and Testing Equipment

Reference List (Excerpt)

Country

Supplier or Final Customer

Testing Equipment

Total weight [kN]

Algeria
Austria

MTU
BMW Steyr
TIZ Landl
NSC Diesel
MTU
DongFeng Honda, Guangzhou
FAW, Changchun

Diesel engine test stand

Roller test stand
Hydro pulse shaking platform
Diesel engine test stand
Diesel engine test stand
Engine test stands
Engine test stands
Roller test stand
Engine test stands
Diesel engine test stand
Roller type test stand
Engine test stands
Test stand
Earthquake simulator
Test stand
Test stand
Test stand
Test stands
7 x Test stands
Test stands
Generator test stand
Car test stand
Gear test stand
Acoustical roller type test stand
Brake test stand
Multiple axle vibration simulator
Earthquake simulator
Wheel test Stand
Vehicle test stand
Engine test stands
Earthquake simulator

314
1,800
6,300
8,806
1,378
6 x 180; 1 x 335
250; 600
1,600
200; 3 x 380
900
950
11x 64; 11 x 179
3,000
26,500
2,250
2,260
14,000
3 x 800; 2 x 3,000
330 3,160
1,500 ; 1,800
13,500
2,089
500
1,350
3,336
1,985
5,120
2,560
3,500
9 x 123
13,600

Railway brake test stand

Hydro pulse shaking platform
Roller test stand
Wheel test stands
Engine test stand
Helicopter gear test stand
Diesel engine test stand
Engine dynamometer
Engine dynamometer
Engine dynamometer
Engine dynamometer
Car test stand
Hydro pulse shaking platform
Brake test stands
Helicopter gear test stand
Hydro pulse shaking platforms
Roller type test stand
Roller type test stand
Rear-axle test stand
Hydraulic shaker test stand
Truck test stand
Diesel engine test stand
Rear-axle test stand
Truck test stand
Engine test stand
Wind tunnel test stand
Diesel engine test stand
Diesel engine test stand
Several test stands

3,336
828; 1,100
2,554
357; 2 x 1,680
310; 360
7,010
333
14 x 145;12 x 117,5
60
85
130
2,150
450
512; 557
1,200
797; 1,008; 1,221
800
s830
1,850
13,400
5,600
860
2,650
3,500
1,210
3,100
1,900
1,100
30 40

Hydraulic test stand

200

Canada
Chile
China

Egypt
France

Germany

Shanghai CheRui Auto. Co.

Shanxi Diesel Engine Fact.
VW Shanghai
Weifang Diesel Engine
Laboratoire Organisation Arabe
CEA Saclay TAMARIS
EADS, Bordeaux
Interspace, Toulouse
Jeumont Schneider, Lyon
Michelin
Peugeot, Belchamp
Renault Agriculture, Velizy
ABB Calor Emag Schaltanl., Ratingen
AUDI
BMW Regensburg
BSI Remscheid
DLR, Braunschweig
IABG
IVECO
Mercedes AMG
TU Aachen,
Dept. of Aerospace Structures
Textar Leverkusen
University Osnabrck
Zahnradfabrik Passau

Great Britain
Greece
India

Italy

Korea
Luxembourg
Netherlands
Elastic Support of a Test Stand including
measurement system

Russia
Singapore
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
UAE/Abu Dhabi
USA

AVL List
GKN Westland Aerospace
MTU
Escorts Limited, Faridabad
Nugas Technologies, N.D.
Shriram Pistons, Ghaziabad
Turbo Energy Ltd, Chennai
Alfa Romeo
Ferrari
FIAT
Gestioni Industriale
Mando
HMC
Goodyear
DAF, Eindhoven
ESA ESTEC, Noordwijk
Schenck
MTU
IVECO, Madrid
IVECO, Barcelona
Volvo
Sauber Aerodynamik
MTU
Abu Dhabi MBM
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory,
California
Lang Mekra North America, SC

worldwide

Saint Petersburg
Essen
Saint Nazaire

Chicago

Berlin
Coswig
Prague
Paris Milano

Madrid
Qingdao

New-Dehli

Bangalore

So Paulo
Crdoba

Corporate Headquarters with Production

Subsidiary with Production
Subsidiary

Layout: Sijades relationship management and design, Berlin

Printed in Germany by Woeste Druck + Verlag Essen, 2003

GERB Schwingungsisolierungen
GmbH & Co. KG
Elastic Support of Test Stands and Testing Equipment
ISO 9001 Certified Company
For a proposal for elastic support of test stands and other test equipment
please send the following information:
Manufacturer, model and type of test stand or general description.
Layout drawing or sketch of the test stand or equipment.
Total weight and weight distribution.
Information about the type of vibration excitation (RPM, SPM,
excitation frequency, type of shock and shock sequence or similar).
Any additional information available will help optimize the elastic support
design.

Roedernallee 174 176

13407 Berlin/Germany
Phone +49 - 30- 41 91-0
Fax
+49 - 30- 41 91-199
iso@gerb.de
Sylviastrasse 21
45131 Essen/Germany
Phone +49 -201-266 04-0
Fax
+49 -201-266 04-40
Visit our website at www.gerb.com