MIL-STD-810H Tests

What is MIL-STD-810H Standard?

Developed by the U.S. Department of Defense, the MIL-STD-810H standard is a U.S. military standard that focuses on adapting the environmental design and testing limits of a military equipment to the conditions it will experience throughout its service life. This standard aims to create room testing methods that repeat the effects of the environment on equipment, rather than imitating environmental conditions. On the other hand, this standard is specially prepared for military applications, but it is also often used for commercial products.

The guidance and testing methods of the MIL-STD-810H standard are mainly aimed at:

• Define environmental stress sequences, duration, and levels of equipment life cycles
• Develop analysis and test criteria adapted to the equipment and environmental life cycle
• To evaluate the performance of the equipment when it is exposed to the life cycle of environmental stresses
• Identify deficiencies and defects in equipment design, materials, manufacturing processes, packaging techniques and maintenance methods
• To comply with the terms of the contract

The full name of the standard in question is as follows: MIL-STD-810, Environmental engineering issues and laboratory tests.

A wide range of environmental conditions included in the MIL-STD-810H standard include:

• Low pressure for altitude tests
• Plus temperature shock to high and low temperatures in warehouses and during use
• Rain effects including blowing wind and freezing rain
• Moisture, fungus and salt fog for rust testing
• Exposure to sand and dust
• Explosive atmosphere
• Leaks and Leaks
• Acceleration
• Shock and shock transport
• Gunfire vibration
• General vibration

This standard describes very valuable environmental management and engineering processes to rely on the environmental value and overall durability of an equipment or material. It includes military planning and engineering practices to detect the effects of environmental stresses on equipment at all stages of its service life.

What are the MIL-STD-810 Standard Test Methods?

The main test methods mentioned in the MIL-STD-810 standard can be listed as follows:

• Test method 500.6 - Low pressure (height)
• Test method 501.6 - High temperature
• Test method 502.6 - Low temperature
• Test method 503.6 - Temperature shock
• Test method 504.2 - Liquids contamination
• Test method 505.6 - Solar radiation (sunlight)
• Test method 506.6 - Rain
• Test method 507.6 - Humidity
• Test method 508.7 - Mushroom
• Test method 509.6 - Salt fog
• Test method 510.6 - Sand and dust
• Test method 511.6 - Explosive atmosphere
• Test method 512.6 - Immersion
• Test method 513.7 - Acceleration
• Test method 514.7 - Vibration
• Test method 515.7 - Acoustic noise
• Test method 516.7 - Shock
• Test method 517.2 - Pyroshock (dynamic structural shock in explosion)
• Test method 518.2 - Acidic atmosphere
• Test method 519.7 - Gunfire shock
• Test method 520.4 - Temperature, humidity, vibration and altitude
• Test method 521.4 - Icing and freezing rain
• Test method 522.2 - Ballistic shock
• Test method 523.4 - Vibro-acoustics and temperature
• Test method 524.1 - Freezing and thawing
• Test method 525.1 - Time waveform replication
• Test method 526.1 - Rail effect
• Test method 527.1 - Multiple stimulus
• Test method 528.1 - Mechanical vibrations of ship equipment

Roles of Employees

While the standard was last updated, environmental design and testing processes have been extended to cover a wide range of managerial and technical interests. Accordingly, environmental design and tests are directed to three main groups of users: program managers, environmental engineering specialists, and design and test engineers and facility operators.

According to the MIL-STD-810 standard, the roles of these employees in the environmental design and test adaptation process are determined as follows:

• Program manager
• System requirements document
• Initial capacity certificate
• Capacity building certificate
• System engineering management plan
• Environmental engineering experts
• Environmental engineering management plan
• Life cycle environmental profile
• Operational environmental design and testing requirements
• Environmental test plans and reports
• Design and test engineers and plant operators
• Engineering designs and specifications
• MIL-STD-810H, Part 2 laboratory test methods
• Natural environment and fleet testing facilities and procedures

MIL-STD-810 Standard Limitations

Environmental analysis, design analysis and laboratory tests are very important tools in military material acquisition processes. However, there are some natural limitations that must be followed when performing analyzes and laboratory tests. The methods in the second part of this standard do not include many of the naturally occurring coercion functions that will affect material performance or integrity in service use. In addition, the ability of analysis and laboratory testing methods to simulate synergistic stress combinations, dynamic stress applications, aging and other potential stress combinations in natural service environments remains limited. Therefore, caution is required when defining analyzes, test criteria and results.

The test methods in the second part of the standard do not draw attention to the following points, but can be applied in some cases:

• Electromagnetic interference (EMI)
• Lightning and magnetic effects
• Nuclear, biological, chemical weapons or later effects
• Specific aspects of ammunition and pyrotechnic safety testing
• Parts such as bolts, wires, transistors and integrated circuits
• Packaging performance or design
• Eligibility of items of clothing or fabrics described in specific specifications
• Environmental stress screening methods and procedures
• Reliability test
• Safety testing
• The region beyond the space and earth atmosphere

Environmental Tests Applied in the Standard Framework

Environmental tests are tests to determine the resistance of various equipment and systems used for military and civilian purposes against natural environmental conditions that they may encounter throughout their lifetime. The following tests are mainly applied:

• Moisture test: With this test, the resistance of the equipment or material to moisture from natural environmental conditions is determined (MIL-STD-810H Method 507). It is applied for equipment and systems exposed to moisture in storage and working conditions.
• High temperature test: With this test, the resistance of the tested equipment or system to high temperature from natural environmental conditions is determined (MIL-STD-810H Method 501). It is applied for equipment and systems exposed to high temperature in storage and working conditions.
• Low temperature test: With this test, the resistance of the tested equipment or system to low temperature from natural environmental conditions is determined (MIL-STD-810H Method 502). It is applied for equipment and systems exposed to high temperature in storage and working conditions.
• Temperature shock test: With this test, the resistance of the tested equipment or system against temperature shock from natural environmental conditions is determined (MIL-STD-810H Method 503). It is applied for materials and systems exposed to temperature shock under working conditions.
• Low pressure (altitude) test: With this test, the resistance of the tested equipment or system to low pressure from natural environmental conditions is determined (MIL-STD-810H Method 500). It is applied for all materials and systems that are exposed to low pressure and sudden pressure change in working conditions.
• Rain test: With this test, the resistance of the tested equipment or system against rain effects from natural environmental conditions is determined (MIL-STD-810H Method 506). It is applied for all materials and systems exposed to rain effect in working conditions.
• Salt fog test: With this test, the resistance of the tested equipment or system against the salt fog effect from natural environmental conditions is determined (MIL-STD-810H Method 509). It is applied for all materials and systems exposed to salt fog under working conditions.

Within the framework of laboratory testing services, MIL-STD-810, environmental engineering issues and laboratory testing services are also provided by our organization.