UN 38.3 Vbration Testing For Lithium Battery

With the rapid development of modern science and technology, lithium batteries, as an efficient, portable and rechargeable energy storage solution, have been widely used in electronic products, electric vehicles and renewable energy. However, because lithium batteries have a certain risk of fire and explosion, ensuring the safety of lithium batteries has become a crucial task.Nearly all lithium batteries are required to pass section 38.3 of the UN Manual of Tests and Criteria (UN Transportation Testing)，making it a requirement for global market access. The protocol includes identifying/classifying lithium batteries; testing/qualification requirements; design guidance/conditions and packaging/shipping obligations.

UN 38.3 Test type

UN 38.3 requires a number of tests to ensure the relative safety of batteries and cell cells during transport, which vary according to the battery and component and what they are assessed for:
Test 1: Altitude simulation - Simulated low pressure (primary and secondary cells and battery packs)
Test 2: Thermal test - This test provides integrity check during rapid and extreme temperature changes (primary and secondary cells and battery packs)
Test 3: Vibration testing - Simulate vibration during transport (primary and secondary cells and battery packs)
Test 4: Shock - Simulate vibration during transport (primary and secondary cells and battery packs)
Test 5: Short Circuit - Simulated external short circuit (primary and secondary cells and battery packs)
Test 6: Impact - Simulate impact and extrusion on the battery housing (primary and secondary batteries)
Test 7: Overcharging - Simulate overcharging of a rechargeable battery (secondary battery)
Test 8: Forced discharge - Simulated forced discharge of batteries (primary and secondary)
This article will focus on Test 3, vibration testing during simulated transportation

UN 38.3 Vbration Testing procedure
The battery and battery are firmly fixed to the platform of the vibration test setup without distorting the battery, thus faithfully transmitting the vibration. The vibration should be a sinusoidal waveform, scanned logarithmically between 7 Hertz and 200 Hertz, and traversed to 7 Hertz in 15 minutes. Repeat this cycle 12 times at each of the three vertical battery mounting positions for a total of 3 hours. One of the vibration directions must be perpendicular to the end face. Logarithmic frequency scanning should be different for batteries and batteries with a total mass of up to 12 kg (batteries and small batteries), and for batteries with a total mass of more than 12 kg (large batteries).
For batteries and small batteries: Start at 7hz and maintain a peak acceleration of 1g until you reach 18hz. The amplitude is then maintained at 0.8 mm(with a total offset of 1.6 mm) and the frequency is increased until a peak acceleration of 8 gn (about 50 Hz) occurs. The peak acceleration of 8gn is then maintained until the frequency increases to 200hz. For large batteries: Peak acceleration from 7hz to 1gn is maintained to 18hz. The amplitude is then maintained at 0.8 mm (total offset of 1.6 mm) and the frequency increases until a peak acceleration of 2 gn (about 25 Hz) occurs. The peak acceleration of 2gn is then maintained until the frequency increases to 200hz.

JOEO's vibration testing specialists use a range of non-destructive testing and inspection methods, such as computed tomography (CT), to identify microscopic defects and damage. Whether the battery passes the vibration test or not, our experts provide a thorough and comprehensive analysis to help customers take the next step.

In addition to vibration test simulations, physical vibration testing of the vehicle battery and its subsystems is also crucial.
JOEO vibration test setup provide turnkey solutions for altitude, mechanical vibration and shock testing, including UN 38.3 and ECE Reg 100 regulations, which state that tests must be carried out in accordance with the Dangerous Goods Act before any cell, module or battery pack is shipped. However, there are many other regulations that apply to different countries and in turn focus on different technology/cell types (cells, modules, battery packs, etc.). Because different battery types and their subsystems have different sizes, weights, and required vibration test curves, a powerful and versatile system is essential. The system must be able to easily adapt to multiple test requirements to simulate the life of the vehicle. If you would like to know more about the different types of vibration testing, it is understood to contact us to discuss your vibration testing requirements with our experts.