Background Rationale for Tailoring Airborne External Stores Vibration Tests in MIL-STD-810, Method 514 or Myths and Sacred Cows in the Environmental Sciences Revisited

This paper identifies background rationale currently missing from Method 514 (Vibration) of MIL-STD-810C/D/E for vibration testing of external stores and associated equipment carried on jet aircraft (Categories 7A and 7B). Information for this paper was taken from the original research study for this part of the test method. The original assumptions made in developing MIL-STD-810 are included so that users of the standard can decide whether the assumptions are relevant to their particular circumstances. Specific topics examined in this paper include:

• Misapplication of the response threshold in Category 7A as an input spectrum

• The level of conservatism factored into the test spectra published in this method

• Longitudinal axis vibration test levels compared with vertical and lateral axis test levels

• Appropriate values of dynamic pressure for specific aircraft/store combinations.