EMC- Military and Aerospace

Radiated Immunity Concerns

Current Events: August 2010

Boxborough 19 August 2010
Michael Koffink
Operations Manager, EMC

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Military/Aerospace EMC

The gap between the test requirements of commercial-off-the shelf

equipment (COTS) and military/aerospace requirements is not an easy
bridge to cross. This is true in regards to EMC and other environmental
test requirements.
This is mainly because of the severe environments these devices and
systems may be exposed to. Besides extreme weather conditions,
temperatures, physical shock and vibration, extreme EMC environment is
considered a major threat to performance of equipment.
For this reason EMC testing requirements are considered more stringent
in the military/aerospace world than is found in the commercial world often
posing difficulties for manufacturers wanting to offer their products in both
arenas

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Some Differences Between Commercial and

Military/Aerospace Test Requirements

Radiated Test Distance- Commercial 3m or 10m common.

Military/Aerospace is 1m.

Radiated Emissions Configuration- Commercial use of a

turntable and adjustable antenna heights. Military/Aerospace
uses fixed position methodology.

Lower and Higher frequency ranges covered by Mil/Aerospace.

Much higher Immunity field strengths- Commercial 3V/m and
10v/m is typical. Mil/Aerospace 200V/m and up is typical on ship
and airborne equipment

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Standards

MIL-STD-188-124Grounding, Bonding and Shielding for Common Long Haul/Tactical Communications

Systems Including Ground Based Communication-Electronics Facilities and Equipment

MIL-STD-188-125-1High-Altitude Electromagnetic Pulse (HEMP) Protection For Ground-Based C41

Facilities Performing Critical, Time-Urgent Missions - Part 1 - Fixed Facilities

MIL-STD-188-125-2High-Altitude Electromagnetic Pulse (HEMP) Protection For Ground-Based C4I

Facilities Performing Critical, Time-Urgent Missions - Part 2 - Transportable Systems

MIL-STD-331CEnvironmental and Performance Tests for Fuse and Fuse Components

MIL-STD-464A Electromagnetic Environmental Effects Requirements for Systems

MIL-STD-1377Measurement of effectiveness of cable, connector, and weapons enclosure shielding and

filters in precluding Hazards of electromagnetic radiation to ordnance

DOD-STD-1399-70-1Interface Standard for Shipboard Systems Section 070 Part 1 DC Magnetic Field
Environment

MIL-STD-1399-300BInterface Standard for Shipboard Systems Section 300 - Electric Power, Alternating
Current

MIL-STD-1541AElectromagnetic Compatibility Requirements for Space Systems

MIL-STD-2169BHigh Altitude Electromagnetic Pulse (HEMP) Environment.

MIL-STD-449DMeasurement of Radio Frequency Spectrum Characteristics

MIL-STD-461FRequirements for the Control of Electromagnetic Interference Characteristics of Subsystems
and Equipment
MIL-STD-704FAircraft electric Power Characteristics
MIL-STD-1310HShipboard Bonding, Grounding, and other Techniques for Electromagnetic Compatibility,
Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP) Mitigation, and Safety

MIL-STD-1542BElectromagnetic Compatibility and Grounding Requirements for Space System Facilities

MIL-STD-1576Electroexplosive Subsystem Safety Requirements and Test Methods for Space Systems
MIL-STD-1605AProcedures for Conducting a Shipboard Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) Survey
(Surface Ship)
DO-160 F Environmental Conditions and Test Procedures for Airborne Equipment

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Most Common Standards in Regards to EMC

MIL-STD-461FRequirements for the Control of

Electromagnetic Interference Characteristics of Subsystems
and Equipment

MIL-STD-464A Electromagnetic Environmental Effects

Requirements for Systems

DO-160 F Environmental Conditions and Test

Procedures for Airborne Equipment Sections

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Mil-Std 461 F

Most widely used standard for US Military EMC assessment

Specific test requirements are grouped according to test type RSRadiated Susceptibility RE- Radiated Emissions CS Conducted
Susceptibility CE Conducted Emissions

Test applicability based on which platform the equipment will be used

on. ie ground, ship, airborne

ESD and Lightning testing is not covered under current and past
versions however it is being considered for future version G

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RTCA DO-160F

DO 160 is the most widely used standard to specify test

conditions for the design of avionics electronic hardware in
airborne systems.

Large document that covers all test requirements not just EMC.
Test types broken out by section.
Includes requirements for lightning. Both near effect and direct.
ESD requirments

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Mil-STD 461 Radiated Susceptibility

RS 101 Magnetic Field 30 Hz to 100KHz

RS 103- Electric Field 2MHz to 40GHz

RS 105- Transient Electromagnetic Field

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Mil-Std 461 RS 103

ALSE and Reverberation chambers methods allowed

2MHz to 40GHz(18 to40GHz optional)
200V/m for aircraft and ships above deck

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DO 160 Section 20 Radiated Susceptibility

ALSE and Reverberation chambers methods allowed

10KHz to 400MHz coupled by injection probe CS
100MHz to 18 GHz radiated by antenna
Field strength requirements guided by category
Categories S,T,W,Y rang 1 to 200V/m
HIRF categories high field strength both CW and pulse required
Category G up to 3000 V/m pulsed
Category L up to 7200 V/m pulsed

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Tips

Understand the environment the product maybe used , what are

the risks? Standards can be tailored to fit application.

Try not to just get by

Large systems may need to be illuminated in multiple spots or

may require reverb method

Expect to ruggedize your product in terms of shielding and

overall design.

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EMC2GR Initiative

Demands of our clients and the local aerospace market in the

Grand Rapids MI area has allowed Intertek the opportunity to grow
and add EMC capabilities to our Kentwood MI facility!

Coming soon September 2010

Mil/Aerospace, Commercial, Automotive
4 EMC chambers, 2 Mils std, 1 full ANSI height 3M, 1 Reverb
Level 5 DO 160 Lightning induced transients

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Questions?

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