Related Resources: vibration

Short-Duration Acceleration and Shock Loads Table

Engineering and Design Applications

Short-Duration Acceleration Loads, Shock Loads and Approximate Duration and Magnitude of Some Applications

GIven in equivalent G-Force or "g" which is the gravitational force equivalent of earth.

The g-force experienced by an object is due to the vector sum of all non-gravitational and non-electromagnetic forces acting on an object's freedom to move. In practice, as noted, these are surface-contact forces between objects. Such forces cause stresses and strains on objects, since they must be transmitted from an object surface. Because of these strains, large g-forces may be destructive.

1g = 9.80665 m/s² Typically used 9.81 m/s²
1g = 32.173984208 ft/s² Typically used 32.2 ft/s²

Type of operation	Acceleration, g	Duration, sec
Elevators:
Average in “fast service”	0.1–0.2	1–5
Comfort limit	0.3
Emergency deceleration	2.5
Public transit:
Normal acceleration and deceleration	0.1–0.2	5
Emergency stop braking from 70 mph	0.4	2.5
Automobiles:
Comfortable stop	0.25	5–8
Very undesirable	0.45	3–5
Maximum obtainable	0.7	3
Crash (potentially survivable)	20–100	<0.1
Aircraft:
Ordinary take-off	0.5	10
Catapult take-off	2.5–6	1.5
Crash landing (potentially survivable)	20–100
Seat ejection	10–15	0.25
Man:
Parachute opening, 40,000 ft	33	0.2–0.5
Parachute opening, 6,000 ft	8.5	0.5
Parachute landing	3–4	0.1–0.2
Fall into fireman’s net	20	0.1
Approximate survival limit with well-distributed
forces (fall into deep snow bank)	200	0.015–0.03
Head:
Adult head falling from 6 ft onto hard surface	250	0.007
Voluntarily tolerated impact with protective headgear	18–23	0.02

Reference: Harris Shock and Vibration Handbook