ASTM_D_4003_-_98_2015.pdf

Designation:D400398(Reapproved 2015)Standard Test Methods forProgrammable Horizontal Impact Test for ShippingContainers and Systems1This standard is issued under the fixed designation D4003;the number immediately following the designation indicates the year oforiginal adoption or,in the case of revision,the year of last revision.A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.Asuperscript epsilon()indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.1.Scope1.1 These test methods are intended to determine the abilityof a package or product to withstand laboratory simulatedhorizontal impact forces.1.2 The horizontal impacts used in these test methods areprogrammed shock inputs that represent the hazards as theyoccur in the shipping and handling environments.The envi-ronmental hazards may include rail switching impacts,lifttruck marshalling impacts,and so forth.The following testmethods apply:1.2.1 Method A,Rail Car Switching ImpactThis testmethod simulates the types of shock pulses experienced bylading in rail car switching,with the use of a rigid bulkhead onthe leading edge of the test carriage,to simulate the end wall ofa railcar and shock programming devices to produce represen-tative shock pulses.With the use of backloading,this testmethod may also be used to simulate compressive forcesexperienced by lading loads during rail car switching.It issuitable for tests of individual containers or systems as they areshipped in rail cars.It may also be used to evaluate theeffectiveness of pallet patterns to determine the effect ofinteraction between containers during rail switching operationimpacts.1.2.2 Method B,Marshalling Impact Tests of Unit LoadsThis test method assesses the ability of unit loads to withstandthe forces encountered during marshalling or loading opera-tions.1.3 The test levels may be varied to represent the mode onshipping and handling used for the item under test.1.4 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regardedas standard.The values given in parentheses are mathematicalconversions to SI units that are provided for information onlyand are not considered standard.1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of thesafety concerns,if any,associated with its use.It is theresponsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.2.Referenced Documents2.1 ASTM Standards:2D996 Terminology of Packaging and Distribution Environ-mentsD4332 Practice for Conditioning Containers,Packages,orPackaging Components for TestingD5277 Test Method for Performing Programmed HorizontalImpacts Using an Inclined Impact TesterE122 Practice for Calculating Sample Size to Estimate,WithSpecified Precision,the Average for a Characteristic of aLot or Process3.Terminology3.1 DefinitionsFor definitions of terms used in this testmethod,see Terminology D996.3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:3.2.1 accelerationthe rate of change of velocity of a bodywith respect to time measured in in./s2(m/s2).3.2.2 backloada duplicate specimen similar to the testpackage or weights to simulate the other lading in the transportvehicle.3.2.3 shock pulsea substantial disturbance characterizedby a rise of acceleration from a constant value and decay ofacceleration to the constant value in a short period of time.3.2.4 shock pulse programmera device to control theparameters of the acceleration versus time-shock pulse gener-ated by a shock test impact machine.3.2.5 velocity changethe sum of the impact velocity andrebound velocity(the area under the accelerationtime curve).4.Significance and Use4.1 These test methods provide a measure of a shippingcontainers ability to protect a product from failure due to1These test methods are under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D10 onPackaging and are the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D10.21 on ShippingContainers and Systems-Application of Performance Test Methods.Current edition approved Oct.1,2015.Published October 2015.Originallyapproved in 1981.Last previous edition approved in 2009 as D4003 98(2009).DOI:10.1520/D4003-98R15.2For referenced ASTM standards,visit the ASTM website,www.astm.org,orcontact ASTM Customer Service at serviceastm.org.For Annual Book of ASTMStandards volume information,refer to the standards Document Summary page onthe ASTM website.Copyright ASTM International,100 Barr Harbor Drive,PO Box C700,West Conshohocken,PA 19428-2959.United States1 horizontal impacts.These measures are based on controlledlevels of shock input and may be used for arriving at theoptimum design of a container or system to protect a productagainst a specified level of shipping environment hazard.4.2 These test methods provide a measure of a packagedproducts ability to withstand the various levels of shippingenvironment hazards.These measures may be used to prescribea mode of shipping and handling that will not induce damageto the packaged