A novel heavy-weight shock test machine for simulating underwater explosive shock environment: Mathematical modeling and mechanism analysis

• A mathematical model is developed for the novel heavy-weight shock test machine.
• The system configurations and analysis method presented are both novel.
• A special energy supply equipment “velocity generator” is proposed and performances numerically simulated.
• A double protection system is introduced to effectively prevent the secondary impact.
• The developed shock test system has higher payload and high-fidelity pulses.

A novel heavy-duty shock test machine is developed to satisfy the newly-built shock resistance standard and simulate accurately the actual underwater explosive environments with increased testing capability. The mathematical model for the shock test machine is created to predict its dynamic performance and analyze its mechanism. Then numerical simulation is carried out to evaluate the prospective capability of the shock test machine under different shock velocity inputs. The double protection system incorporating the stroke limit of the accumulator piston and the unloading circuit can effectively prevent the secondary collision in the testing process. The simulation results have demonstrated that the shock test machine proposed in this paper can produce nearly the same shock acceleration waveform as the new shock resistance standard BV043/85 and MIL-S-901D. Moreover, this shock test machine can be regulated conveniently to adjust to a different type of equipment and be extended easily to suit more severe shock environments and heavier equipment. The proposed system configuration and associated mathematical model provide theoretical basis and useful design techniques for practical applications.