Box Drop Shock

What it does

This tool provides a fast first-pass estimate of drop shock severity. It is intended for trade studies—understanding how mass, drop height, compliance (packaging/impact surface), and damping influence peak deceleration and impact force.

Inputs

• Mass (m): payload mass (kg or lbm)
• Drop height (h): free-fall height before impact
• Compliance / stiffness (k): effective contact stiffness (packaging + surface)
• Damping (c) or damping ratio (ζ): impact energy dissipation (if provided)
• Gravity (g): use default or override for units

Outputs

• Peak acceleration: estimated maximum deceleration during impact
• Peak force: corresponding impact force estimate
• Time response (if plotted): acceleration/deflection vs. time during the event
• Sensitivity cues: how k and damping change peak values

Assumptions & limitations

• Impact modeled as an idealized compliant contact (often lumped mass + spring + damper)
• Real packaging nonlinearity and crush behavior may not be captured unless modeled explicitly
• Peak values are sensitive to effective stiffness; use realistic k (or calibrate to test data)
• Not intended for certification or safety-critical decisions without independent verification

How to use

• Start with mass and drop height; run a baseline case.
• Bracket stiffness: try low/medium/high k to capture uncertainty in packaging and surface compliance.
• Add damping (or damping ratio) if you have test intuition; compare peak acceleration changes.
• Use outputs to compare design changes and identify which parameter dominates.

References

• Classical lumped-parameter impact modeling (mass–spring–damper)
• Shock and vibration engineering texts (general SDOF impact response)