Impulse force hammer


What is an impulse force hammer?

An impulse force hammer is a hammer equipped with a piezoelectric force sensor and serves to stimulate a structure that is to be examined. Various hard tips made of steel, different plastics and rubber of varying hardness can be mounted to the force sensor; each of these tips stimulates different frequency spectra.

An impulse force hammer is a hammer equipped with a piezoelectric force sensor and serves to stimulate a structure that is to be examined.
With the impulse force hammer method, the frequency response and damping behavior of this multi-component force plate can be determined quickly and easily.

An accelerometer is used to measure vibrations generated by the hammer blow on the structure that is to be examined.

Where is the impulse force hammer used?

An impulse force hammer allows the dynamic behavior of a structure to be easily examined during its development phase or in actual use. The pulse force hammer method provides extensive information on the frequency response and damping behavior of the structure being examined. 

How is data acquired with the impulse force hammer method?

The measuring element integrated in the impulse force hammer has a voltage output. The instrumented hammer and the accelerometers are supplied by multi-channel couplers. Used in combination with an FFT analyzer, the transfer functions of the structure are determined from the acceleration and force signals. 

What are the advantages of the impulse force hammer method?

Advantages of the impulse force hammer method:

  • Quickly and easily determine the frequency response and damping behavior of a structure
  • Easily measure at difficult-to-access locations
  • Detect changes to the structure (for example, damages or material defects)
  • Mobile use
  • Little additional hardware necessary
  • Time and cost savings

How to perform an integrity test with the impulse force hammer method

In general, the range of the excited frequencies decreases with increasing impact duration. The impact tips mounted on an impulse force hammer are made from various materials (steel, plastic and rubber tips of various density) and stimulate various frequency ranges. Depending on the frequency one wishes to stimulate in the structure, the selected impact tip and an extender mass (for increasing the force range) are mounted on the hammer.

You might be interested also in