Rugged data acquisition for land system readiness: The role of Simcenter SCADAS RS in noise and vibration validation
Defense land systems such as armored vehicles, artillery platforms, and support equipment must operate reliably in extremely demanding environments. During operation, these systems are exposed to severe mechanical vibration, acoustic noise, shock, and structural excitation generated by engines, weapon systems, terrain interaction, and transportation. Under such conditions, rugged data acquisition is essential to accurately capture real‑world noise and vibration (N&V) behavior. N&V performance is therefore not simply about comfort, it directly impacts crew safety, operational effectiveness, and long‑term structural durability.
Consider the noise levels in military vehicles, which can reach 120 dBA or more – close to the human acoustic pain threshold! Such high noise impairs vehicle crews, affecting speech intelligibility and the ability to hear other crucial sounds. Prolonged exposure can even lead to irreversible hearing loss.
To tackle these challenges, a robust framework of standards has evolved. MIL-STD-810, for instance, ensures military equipment can withstand the rigors of combat. International ISO Standards like ISO 2631 (whole-body vibration) and ISO 10816 (vibration measurement) provide globally recognized guidelines.
In this blog post, we’ll explore how Simcenter SCADAS RS offers robust, synchronized multi-physics data acquisition and intelligent workflows for field use. This empowers engineers to move quickly and efficiently from raw operational data to informed engineering decisions, ultimately enhancing land system readiness.
Built for extreme field conditions and rugged data acquisition
To validate performance in the harsh realities of military operations, engineering teams need data acquisition technology that’s as rugged and mission-ready as the vehicles themselves. Simcenter SCADAS RS is designed precisely for this challenge.
It supports high-channel-count strain acquisition and extended vibration bandwidth measurements, ensuring accurate capture of dynamic load events. With distributed modules positioned close to measurement points, you benefit from:
- Minimized cabling: Less clutter, easier installation.
- Improved signal integrity: More accurate data.
- Simplified setup: Even in confined vehicle interiors.
Whether mounted inside an armored vehicle traversing rough terrain or distributed across multiple structural zones, the system maintains synchronized, uninterrupted data acquisition.
Simcenter SCADAS RS is engineered for uncompromising rugged performance, operating reliably in conditions from –40 °C to +85 °C, with IP66/IP67 protection against dust and water, and resistance to severe shock and continuous vibration.
Defense vehicle programs evolve over decades, and testing requirements grow with platform upgrades and modifications. With its modular architecture, Simcenter SCADAS RS scales effortlessly from small measurement campaigns to more than 1,000 synchronized channels. Recorder, power, and conditioning units can be configured to match each test campaign, protecting your long-term investment.
Efficient workflows for modern defense programs
Land systems testing often involves remote proving grounds and distributed engineering teams. In such scenarios, efficiency and connectivity are paramount.
The browser-based Simcenter SCADAS RS Recorder App enables wireless configuration and monitoring from any device, without software installation. This means engineers can:
- Validate sensor setups.
- Monitor live measurements.
- Adjust test parameters while trials are ongoing.
Multi-user access allows specialists in vibration, durability, and structural analysis to collaborate simultaneously. This significantly reduces setup errors, minimizes re-testing, and accelerates decision-making – crucial advantages when test windows are limited and program timelines are tight.
From operational loads to durability validation
Real-world strain and load data collected during off-road maneuvers can then be transformed into fatigue spectra and mission profiles. These profiles are then used to perform Rainflow-based fatigue analysis and develop accelerated durability test cycles for laboratory test benches.
Simcenter Testlab Process Designer plays a crucial role here by offering powerful capabilities for automating and standardizing fatigue analysis workflows. Engineers can define and execute repeatable processes, from raw data import to advanced fatigue calculations, ensuring consistency, reducing manual effort, and accelerating the time from data to actionable insights.
Simcenter Testlab Mission Synthesis also comes into play here. It allows for the advanced processing of measured operational data to accurately estimate damage potential and derive accelerated, yet realistic, test profiles for shaker testing. This ensures that laboratory tests truly reflect real-world conditions, leading to more reliable durability validation.
Addressing noise & vibration in armored vehicles: Protecting personnel
Military vehicles must also withstand extreme terrain while protecting personnel from excessive vibration exposure. Whole-Body Vibration (WBV) and Hand-Arm Vibration (HAV) are critical factors in crew safety, governed by standards such as ISO 2631-1 and ISO 5349-1. Prolonged exposure to vibration can impact endurance, operational capability, and long-term health. Accurate measurement under real operating conditions is therefore essential.
Simcenter SCADAS RS enables synchronized acquisition of:
- Seat, floor and chassis accelerations
- Strain on structural components
- Temperature and environmental data
- Vehicle CAN bus parameters
- GNSS position
- Onboard video streams
All signals are captured within a single, time-aligned dataset. Instead of merging multiple disconnected systems after testing, engineers gain immediate insight into how vibration events relate to terrain, vehicle speed, driver input and structural response.
If a vibration threshold is exceeded during a field trial, teams can instantly correlate the event with GPS location, review the corresponding video footage and analyze vehicle operating conditions. This dramatically shortens root-cause investigation time and accelerates corrective action. Field programs have demonstrated significant reductions in end-to-end testing time — from data collection through analysis and reporting.
But efficiency doesn’t stop in the field; a seamless data flow from acquisition to analysis is equally crucial.”
Seamless data flow from field to analysis with SCALANCE and Simcenter Testlab Workflow Automation (TWA)
While robust data acquisition in the field is paramount, getting that valuable data efficiently to the analysis stage is equally critical. This is where the integration of Simcenter SCADAS RS with Siemens’ SCALANCE modems and Simcenter Testlab Workflow Automation (TWA) creates a truly seamless workflow.
Imagine capturing critical N&V data in the most remote and challenging environments. With a SCALANCE modem connected to your Simcenter SCADAS RS, this data can be securely and reliably uploaded to a central server, even from locations with limited infrastructure. SCALANCE modems are designed for industrial environments, ensuring robust and continuous connectivity, which is vital for maintaining data integrity during transmission.
Once the data arrives at the server, Simcenter Testlab Workflow Automation (TWA) takes over. TWA automatically processes, organizes, and analyzes the incoming data according to predefined workflows. This means that as soon as your field tests are complete and the data is uploaded via SCALANCE, the analysis can begin without manual intervention. Engineers can quickly access processed results, generate reports, and feed insights back into the design and validation process, significantly reducing the time from data collection to actionable intelligence.
This powerful integration not only accelerates your development cycles but also minimizes human error and ensures consistency in your data analysis, ultimately strengthening land system readiness through smarter, faster testing.
Strengthening land system readiness through smarter testing
For modern armoured vehicle programs, reliable N&V validation under real operational conditions is essential. It safeguards personnel, enhances durability and ensures platforms perform as designed when deployed.
Simcenter SCADAS RS delivers rugged, synchronized multi-physics data acquisition and intelligent field workflows, enabling land systems engineers to move from raw operational data to confident engineering decisions faster and more efficiently.
Mission-ready vehicles demand mission-ready validation. Simcenter SCADAS RS is built to support exactly that.
Learn more about Simcenter SCADAS RS for noise, vibration and durability testing by checking the links, below:
Watch webinar on Simcenter SCADAS RS for data acquisition in extreme environment
