A hard set-down by a crane, a collision during loading, or a pothole on the road: During transport, high mechanical stresses can act on cargo in a very short amount of time.

Particularly with high-value industrial equipment, transformers, machine components, or sensitive medical technology, even a single shock event can affect delicate components.

However, it is not only whether a shock occurred that matters, but also how severe the resulting load was, from which direction it came, and how it evolved during the event—all of which are crucial for evaluating a shock event.

Professional shock monitoring during transport makes precisely these forces measurable and traceable.

An impact occurs when the motion of a cargo item changes drastically within a very short period of time. From a technical perspective, this involves acceleration or deceleration acting on the object.

Typical causes include, for example:

• abrupt setting down during crane transport
• collisions during loading
• abrupt braking
• driving over potholes or obstacles
• shunting and transshipment operations
• falls or improper handling

Impact loads are typically measured in g. One g corresponds to the acceleration due to gravity of approximately 9.81 m/s².

However, a high g-value alone does not automatically indicate whether damage has occurred. The decisive factors are always the design of the specific cargo and the loads it can withstand.

The effects of an impact depend heavily on the cargo’s construction.

While a robust component can easily withstand a certain load, the same acceleration can already cause internal changes in a delicate structure.

Possible consequences include, for example:

• loose fasteners
• displaced components
• microcracks
• damaged electrical components
• altered mechanical settings
• damage to cables and connections

Especially in the case of complex technical systems, such changes can later affect functionality or performance.

Large transformers provide a particularly illustrative example. Their magnetic core consists, among other things, of numerous thin, layered electrical steel sheets. If the transformer is subjected to significant mechanical stress during transport, these sheets can shift. This can impair the magnetic flux, which is critical to the transformer’s operation.

The windings arranged around the core must also maintain their defined positions. Insulation materials are located between them to prevent electrical contact or short circuits.

Shocks, vibrations, or tilting can cause components to move relative to one another, shift their positions, or subject the insulation materials to mechanical stress.

This is precisely why transformers are among the types of cargo for which mechanical stresses should be monitored with particular care.

When evaluating an impact event, people often look first at the maximum acceleration. This value is important, but it represents only part of the event.

For a more accurate analysis, additional information can be crucial:

• What was the maximum acceleration?
• How long did the impact last?
• From which direction did the impact occur?
• How did the acceleration change over the course of the event?
• Was there a single impact or a series of impacts?

An impact is therefore not a single point in time, but a sequence over time.

This is exactly where so-called impact curves come into play.

Modern shock recorders can be configured to respond to specific mechanical stresses.

If a specified recording threshold is exceeded, the sensor does not simply record the highest measured g-value. Instead, it captures the progression of the shock event.

The resulting shock curve shows how the acceleration developed during the event.

This allows for a much more accurate assessment of what may have happened. Based on the direction and course of the force, for example, clues can be obtained as to whether the cargo itself was jolted or whether an external force was applied.

Monilog® systems such as the ShockDisplay curve 2 record shock events in three dimensions. Thresholds, shock filters, and minimum shock duration can be configured, and events can be saved as signal waveforms.

Event-driven recording is particularly relevant in impact monitoring.

Threshold values can be defined prior to transport. If a specified recording threshold is exceeded, the system begins detailed recording of the event.

This means that not every minor movement during transport is automatically treated as a critical impact. Instead, only those events that may be relevant for further evaluation are documented.

In addition to the actual measurement data, the time of the event is also stored. Depending on the system used, position data may also be available.

This makes it possible to determine later whether an event occurred, for example, during transshipment, on a specific section of the transport route, or upon delivery.

This information may be relevant in cases such as:

• Damage analyses
• Complaints
• Warranty claims
• Insurance claims
• Liability issues

among others.

Important: The measurement data does not automatically replace the technical assessment of damage. However, it helps make the actual course of transport more traceable.

Documenting a shock event is particularly helpful when concrete measures can be derived from it.

If a critical load has been recorded, a targeted inspection can be conducted to determine which components may be affected.

Depending on the event, for example:

• technical inspections can be prepared
• specific components can be checked
• spare parts can be organized
• maintenance measures planned

and further transport segments adjusted.

However, the reverse scenario is just as important: If no critical loads are detected, additional inspection or maintenance measures may be avoided. In this way, recorded transport data provides a basis for more targeted decisions rather than blanket safety measures.

Shock events are among the primary mechanical risks involved in the transport of sensitive and high-value goods.

It is not solely the highest measured g-value that matters. The duration, direction, and progression of a shock can also provide important information about what actually happened during transport.

Modern shock recorders therefore not only detect individual instances where thresholds are exceeded, but can also record the direction, intensity, time, duration, minimum, and maximum values of the impact.

This provides companies with a solid foundation for analyzing critical events, implementing appropriate measures, and identifying recurring weaknesses in the transportation process.

With Monilog® shockrecorders, mechanical stresses during transport and storage can be documented and analyzed.

This provides you with important information for evaluating shock events, analyzing potential causes of damage, and optimizing your transport processes.