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