Demanding Electromagnetic Environments Call for Unique Test Lab Capabilities
Most industry EMC regulations call for a common suite tests covering emissions measurements and susceptibility. Others are more stringent and demanding, both for the test item and on the lab equipment. The type and severity of tests depend on the environmental conditions in which the equipment will operate.
Commercial and military aviation are prime examples of electromagnetic environments that can be exceptionally severe. They include atmospheric lightning, the nuclear Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP), powerful ground-based and aircraft mounted radar, as well as radio communications equipment.
For a test lab, each of these threats require specialty equipment, amplifiers, high gain antenna, and EMC chambers to create a tests that will represent the environment. Elite has this specialty test equipment and expertise to help clients meet their most demanding end use applications.
Elite Testing at the Extremes- Lightning, Surge, HIRF, and EMP
High Intensity Radiated Fields (HIRF)
High power and communications transmitters along with aviation and weather radar systems can generate high powered electromagnetic waves. In some instances these fields can reach levels of several hundreds to thousands (V/m). Commercial and military fixed wing aircraft and rotor-craft can fly through the extreme environments created by these RF systems and must be tested to ensure they are immune to this threat.
Aviation Lightning- Indirect Effects
For aviation applications, lightning tests replicate either the direct strike from a lightning event or the indirect effects. Direct effects include all the physical damage caused by lightning strikes such as burning, melting, arcing, blasting, and punctures. Indirect effects include the induced currents and voltages imparted by the direct lightning strike. Years of research has resolved lightning’s complex behavior and interactions with aircraft into a standard model of waveforms which can be generated in a laboratory setting.
Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP)
The Electromagnetic Pulse test as developed for MIL-STD-461 RS103 is 50kV/m radiated transient that replicates the fast risetime portion of a high-altitude nuclear weapon detonation. Military equipment and certain infrastructure products are tested to this transient pulse to evaluate their survivability.
Elite Capabilities
High Intensity RF Fields (HIRF)
Elite offers HIRF testing in Absorber Lined Shielded Enclosures (ALSE) semi-anechoic chambers that meet MIL-STD-461 and RTCA DO-160 performance specifications.
In addition, Elite performs HIRF testing in reverberation chambers for Mode Tuned/Mode Stirred RF susceptibility testing. Elite’s RM14L and RM14S reverb chambers are paired to produce radiated susceptibility testing starting at 100MHz and up to 40GHz. The combination of high powered amplifiers and test equipment, plus the reverberant characteristics of these chambers helps produce high fields for Pulse Modulated, Square Wave, and Continuous Wave HIRF susceptibility.
Reverberant chambers provide a highly robust susceptibility evaluation due the inherent field homogeneity and isotropy that is associated with this method. Homogeneity means that the maximum RF field will present at all areas of the calibrated exposure volume during testing, and for large equipment or systems testing this extended coverage area is desirable. The benefit of isotropy is that incident RF fields interact with the test item and exposed cables from all angles and polarities.
Lightning Tests for Avionics
Elite has two Thermo Scientific ECAT Lightning Test Systems. In addition to generating standardized lightning waveforms, Elite can engineer and developed specialized lightning and surge transients for customized requirements.
Lightning Capability: Single Stroke, Multiple Stroke and Multiple Burst Waveforms and Levels
- Lightning Capability
- Single Stroke, Multiple Stroke
- Multiple Burst Waveforms
- Cable Induction Methods
- MIL-STD-461G CS117
- RTCA DO-160F/G Waveforms 1, 2, 3, 4, 5a
- Single Stroke All Waveforms (Up to Level 5)
- Multi-Stroke All Waveforms (Up to Level 5)
- Ground Injection Methods
- RTCA DO-160F/G Waveforms 1, 2, 4, 5a
- Single Stroke All Waveforms (Up to Level 5)
- Multi-Stroke All Waveforms (Up to Level 5)
- Multiple Burst – Waveform 3 and Waveform 6H Capability
- Waveform 3 multiple burst threat is applied by cable induction up to Level 5.
- Waveform 6H multiple burst threat is applied by cable induction up to Level 3.
Surge Waveforms and Transient Testing
CE Mark / International Lightning Surge Transients
- IEC EN 61000-4-4 Electrical Fast Transients
- IEC EN 61000-4-5 Surge 1.2 x 50 / 8 x 20 us
- IEC EN 61000-4-12 Damped Oscillatory 1 MHz
- Reverberation Chamber Testing Machine
Telecommunications Surge Testing
- Type A Telecom Surge
- Type B Telecom Surge
- Power Line Surge
Power Line Lightning Protection
- IEEE ANSI C63.41
- 100kHz Ring wave 6kV, 500A
- 1.2us/50us, 8us/20us Comb. Wave 6kV, 3kA
ANSI C37.90.1
- 1 MHz Oscillatory, SWC Test Wave 3KV OC
- Fast Transient SWC Test Wave 5 KV OC
EMP Testing
Elite’s Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP) simulator is designed to test in accordance with MIL-STD-461 RS105 at pulse amplitudes in excess of 50,000V/m. With this unique test capability, Elite is one of a select few independent EMC labs capable of performing the full range of MIL-STD-461 tests all under one roof.
Elite’s radiated EMP transient pulse simulator has a plate separation of 1.2 meters with a plate area of 1m x 2m. In addition to achieving the 50,000V/m maximum field, the simulator pulse meets the stringent wave shape requirements of 2.5ns rise time and 28ns decay.
Elite’s EMP simulator is typically called to service for testing military equipment, but more recently it’s been tasked to test equipment used on the electric power grid. EMP test methods for power grid electronics include IEC 61000-4-25 and related specifications.
Our Lightning, HIRF, and EMP Testing Specialists
Equipment connected to power mains is vulnerable to the effects of power failures, voltage surges, and lightning transients. Among Elite’s impressive roster of experts is the experienced team testing and verifying equipment to assure survival when those events happen. Long experience and expertise are combined in these engineers.
Mark Stojkovich
Senior EMC Engineer / Military & Aerospace
Thomas Klouda
Vice President / Director of Engineering
Steve Framarin
Senior EMC Engineer / Military & Aerospace
