1D Dropped Shock

This calculator will determine the shock response to a dropped weight onto a spring and viscous damper. The spring and damper are mass-less and, therefore, the results are valid for both the case of 1) the spring/damper attached to the bottom of the weight and dropped onto a hard surface and 2) the rigid weight dropped onto the spring/damper. This version is limited to one vertical degree of freedom.

Details (inputs, outputs, assumptions) Read once

Model summary

Inputs: User inputs weight, spring rate, viscous damping, drop height and initial velocity.

Outputs: Natural frequency, critical viscous damping and % of critical, initial contact time, maximum acceleration and maximum displacement.

Hint:The configuration and results can be saved to a JSON file for future use.

Use case: quick what-ifs, sensitivity, and early sizing.

Examples

Example of a 1D dropped weight.

Preliminary estimates only. Verify independently for safety applications. See Terms.