Overview
EN ISO 10846-5:2009 (ISO 10846-5:2008) defines a laboratory driving point method to determine the low-frequency transfer stiffness of resilient supports for translatory motion. The procedure measures vibrations and forces on the input side while the output side is blocked (the “driving point”), producing the dynamic driving-point stiffness. The method is applicable under a specified static preload and is intended for test elements with parallel flanges. Only at low frequencies - where driving-point stiffness equals transfer stiffness - can this method be used to determine the dynamic transfer stiffness.
Key topics and technical requirements
- Principle: measure input-side force and displacement (or velocity/acceleration) with the output side blocked to compute dynamic driving-point stiffness.
- Applicability: resilient supports used to reduce low-frequency vibration and structure-borne sound (typical audible low band ~20–200 Hz; very low-frequency concerns ~1–80 Hz).
- Test arrangements: fixtures for normal and transverse translations, suppression of unwanted vibrations, and use of force-distribution plates where required.
- Instrumentation: requirements for force transducers, accelerometers, signal summation and analysers to capture dynamic response.
- Procedures: installation, mounting of accelerometers and exciters, selection of source signals, measurement campaigns and linearity tests under static preload.
- Evaluation: calculation of dynamic driving-point stiffness, presentation of results in narrow-band and one-third-octave-band averaged values, and documentation of measurement uncertainty.
- Acceptance criteria: criteria for adequacy of the test arrangement and determination of an upper limiting frequency where the method remains valid.
- Documentation: required test report content and recorded information; informative annexes include static load-deflection curves and guidance on measurement uncertainty.
Practical applications
- Performance verification of engine mounts, machine mounts, building resilient supports, shipboard mountings, and appliance isolators where low-frequency vibration control is critical.
- Laboratory characterisation of resilient elements for design, quality control, and acoustic/vibration modelling.
- Use in studies of structure-borne sound transmission and human vibration exposure at low frequencies.
Who should use this standard
- Acoustic and vibration test laboratories
- Mechanical and acoustic engineers working on isolation systems
- Manufacturers of resilient mounts and vibration isolators
- R&D teams validating dynamic stiffness for product development
- Consultants addressing low-frequency vibration and building/industrial noise control
Related standards
- EN/ISO 10846 series:
- Part 1: Principles and guidelines
- Part 2: Direct method for dynamic stiffness determination
- Part 3: Indirect method
- Part 4: Dynamic stiffness of other elements
Keywords: ISO 10846-5, EN ISO 10846-5:2009, driving point method, dynamic driving-point stiffness, transfer stiffness, vibro-acoustic, resilient supports, low-frequency measurement, laboratory vibration testing.
