This document summarizes a lab test of a cushion's performance after multiple impacts. A polystyrene cushion was placed under a drop tester carriage that was raised and dropped from increasing heights. The acceleration of each impact was recorded. Over seven drops with added weight each time, the data collected was used to create a damage boundary curve showing the cushion's ability to absorb impact before damage occurs. Acceleration, static load, and other data was recorded for each drop and analyzed to understand the cushion's shock absorbing characteristics.

1. 1
Lab 4
Cushion Test
JaredSattler
Date Performed:4/3/15
Date Submitted:4/17/15

2. 2
1.0 ABSTRACT..............................................................................................................................Page3
2.0 EQUIPMENT...........................................................................................................................Page 3
3.0 TEST SPECIMENS.................................................................................................................Page 3-5
3.1 Specimen1: Cushion.............................................................................................Page 3-4
3.2 Specimen2: WeightSystem...................................................................................Page 4-5
4.0 PROCEDURE AND INSTRUMENATION..................................................................................Page 5-6
4.1 Shock Absorbing Characteristicsof Package CushioningMaterials(ASTM D1596)…Page 5-6
5.0 DATA ANALYSIS..................................................................................................................Page 6-7
5.1 Data...........................................................................................................................Page6
5.2 Graph.........................................................................................................................Page7
6.0 RESULTS AND CONCLUSION.................................................................................................Page10
7.0 SOURCES OF ERROR.............................................................................................................Page 10
8.0 APPENDIX............................................................................................................................Page 10
8.1 References...............................................................................................................Page 10
8.2 Documentation of SpecimensandTesting Events...............................................Page 10-12
8.3 Vibration Data……………………………………………………………………………………………..……….…..13-30

3. 3
1.0 ABSTRACT
Thislab testedthe performance of a cushionafterittookseveral impacts.The cushionwas
placedat the bottomof a cushiontester.The testerdropsa weightandrecordsthe accelerationfrom
the impact thatthe cushionexperiences.Therewere multiple dropsdone throughoutthe testwith
weightaddedeachtime.The datathat was recordedfromeachtestthisis thenusedtocreate a damage
boundarycurve.The curve is able to depictthe amountof accelerationthe cushionisable tohandle
before the productitis protectingisdamaged.
2.0 Equipment
 CushionDropTester
o Manufacturer:LansmontCorporation
o Model Number:M23
o Serial Number:15834
o HeightLimit:18”
o Carriage:15 lbs
o Media:Nitrogen
 Accelerometer
o Model Number– 353B04
o Serial Number–133692
o Sensitivity –9.94 mV/g
 WeightPlates
3.0 Test Specimens
3.1 Specimen1:
SpecimenDescription:Cushion
The cushionusedinthislab isa polystyrene cushion.Itwas8 by 8 inchesand
was 2 inchestall.The cushionhada densityof 1.7 lb/in.The cushionwasplacedatthe

4. 4
bottomof the droptester.The carriage wouldbe raisedandthendroppedontothe
cushion.Thistookplace five timesandthe accelerationwasrecordedforeachdrop.
SpecimenPhotos
3.2 Specimen2:
SpecimenDescription:CushionImpact Tester
The Lansmont CushionImpact Testerisa machine thatis able tobe raisedtoa
specificheightthendroppeddownontothe cushionbelow.Thiscarriage systemthatisdroppedis
raisedupto 18 inchesbefore itwasdropped.The systemwasdroppedfive timestotal andeachtime
the carriage isdroppedweightwasadded.The accelerometerwithinthe carriage recordsthe
accelerationandstaticloadfromeach drop as well asthe durationof the impact.Thisinformationis
thenable to be usedto create a damage boundarycurve.The curve showsthe amountimpacta cushion
can take before damage will be seentothe productthe cushionprotect.

5. 5
SpecimenPhotos:
4.0 PROCEDURE
4.1 Shock Absorbing Characteristicsof Package CushioningMaterials(ASTM D1596):
 Thistestmethodcoversa procedure forobtainingdynamicshockcushioningcharacteristicsof
packagingmaterialsthroughaccelerationtime datarecorded fromdroppingafallingguided
platenassemblyonto an8”x 8”x 2” cushion withadensityof 1.7 lb/in.Thistestmethod doesn’t
addressanyeffectsof exteriorpackaging.
 The data recorded may be usedfora single pointorforuse in developingadynamiccushion
curve for the specificmaterial beingtested.Suchdatamay be usedforcomparisonamong
differentmaterialsatspecificinputconditions,orqualifyingmaterialsagainstperformance
specifications.Cautionshouldbe usedwhenattemptingtocompare datafrom different
methodsorwhenusingsuchdata for predictingin-packageperformance.Dependinguponthe
particularmaterialsof concern,correlationof suchdatamay be highlyvariable.

6. 6
 See picturesanddiagramsbelow forcorrectinstrumentation.
5.0 DATA ANALYSIS
5.1 Data
Drop
Number
Drop Height
(in)
Weight
(lbs)
Static Load
(psi)
Acceleration
(G's)
Duration
(ms)
Velocity
Change
(in/sec)
1 18 15 .234 37.62 18.10 192.58
2 18 21.43 .334 31.98 22 199.20
3 18 34.27 .535 27.69 26.7 204.78
4 18 59.975 .937 30.32 30.7 205.49
5 18 85.66 1.338 31.48 31.1 202.39
6 18 117.705 1.839 35.15 30.8 211.28
7 18 121.83 1.904 37.39 28.3 213.06

7. 7
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 1.2 1.4 1.6 1.8 2
Acceleration(G's)
Static Load (psi)
Cushion Curve
18" drop height, 7 drops