Environmental Test and Reliability Conference Sessions

Conference sessions are comprised of technical papers, panels, and case studies on the latest issues impacting the industry. Get the most up-to-date information from leading industry experts in your fields.

Program subject to change. More session presentations will be added below as they are approved.

All session times are shown in Eastern Time.
 

Monday, May 5, 2025

Instrumentation and Sensors Panel Discussion
1:15 - 3:05 p.m.
This session will delve into the critical role of instrumentation and sensors in accurately measuring and recording environmental parameters.

Simulating the Real World: Multi-Environment Testing
3:25 - 5:15 p.m.
The drive toward combined environments increases test realism, but also complication. This session is geared toward sensibly and effectively applying multiple environmental stresses at the same time and assessing the results.

Presentations:

  • Multi-environment Testing in Heat Exchangers
  • Battery Testing for DOT Hazardous Materials Certification
  • Systems Testing Using Combined Environments

Tuesday, May 6, 2025

FMEA and Fault Tree Analysis
9:30 - 11:20 a.m.
What could go wrong? No, seriously. This session covers formalized methods to answer this question across a large project. Talks may also focus on methods to develop a concrete plan of action in response to such analysis.

Presentations:

  • Reliability and Mission Engineering: Improving Mission Success
  • Risk Assessment and Modaling of Data Centers

Accelerated Life Testing
1 - 2:50 p.m.
It is well known that you can cause failures faster by turning up the heat (or cold, or vibration, or…) This session is dedicated to when and how it is appropriate to do this, with an emphasis on case studies.

Presentations:

  • Review of Field-data Analysis for Accelerated Life Testing
  • Reliability Analysis for Testing and Understanding Failure Mechanisms
     

Mastering Climatics Testing and Analysis: Uncovering Environmental Insights
3:10 - 5 p.m.
Join us for an engaging session dedicated to climatics testing and analysis, where we unlock the power of environmental testing to ensure product reliability and performance. Experts in the field will delve into the intricacies of subjecting products to extreme temperature, humidity, and environmental conditions, providing real-world examples and cutting-edge techniques. Learn how climatics testing identifies vulnerabilities, optimizes product design, and enhances safety in industries ranging from electronics to aerospace. Whether you're an engineer, quality control professional, or researcher, this session will equip you with the knowledge and skills to harness the potential of climatics testing in your projects.

Presentations:
- Environmental Test Chamber Construction and Operation
- PID and Controls
- Preparing for and Conducting a Practical/Effective HALT


Wednesday, May 7, 2025

Testing Specialized Environments
8 - 9:50 a.m.
Beyond traditional temperature, humidity, altitude, and vibration testing, this session explores the impact of real-world environmental factors on product performance. This session will cover information on simulating extreme weather conditions, including rain, ice, sand, dust, and lightning strikes, to assess product resilience and identify potential failure points.

Presentations:
- Blowing Sand and Dust Concentration/Distribution Verification using High Volume Iso-Kinetic Testing
- A Method for Comparing Commercial Compliance Standards to MIL-STD-810 Method 506 Rain and Method 512 Immersion, for Limiting Test & Evaluation on COTS Hardware

Environmental Testing Considerations in Space Flight Missions
10:10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Getting to space is more than just passing through the atmosphere and dwelling in hard vacuum. This session builds on the detailed specifications of SMC-S-016 and general guidance given in other standards to consider challenges unique to space-bound payloads and vehicles.

Presentations:
- Installation and Alignment of a Vibration Test System for High C.G. Space Payload
- Creating an Environmental Test Plan for Satellites and Satellite Components

Real Life Fixturing Challenges: The Good, the Bad and the Weird
3 - 4:50 p.m.
How a product is held on test can radically affect its dynamics and alter the ability to deliver realistic climatic environments. Talks in this session showcase fixturing challenges and principles using specific examples.


Thursday, May 8, 2025

Dynamics Testing - A Closer Look
8 - 9:50 a.m.
In this session, we consider motion that occurs in an environment as well as motion that is applied to assess a product’s suitability for an environment. From a sinusoidal pulse to non-stationary field data, if it moves it goes here.

Presentations:
- Multi Shaker Testing Configurations and Control Strategies
- The Nonlinear Dynamics of an Arch Microbeam

Lab Management Panel Discussion
10:10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Products must generally undergo environmental laboratory testing prior to being sold and fielded.  One aspect of a laboratory that directly influences the success of a test program is management practices.  While many larger companies can support the operation of an internal environmental test facility, those that cannot must go to a so-called “outside test lab” that specializes in the simulation of various environments.  Each laboratory approach has its benefits and downfalls that must be effectively managed in order for a test program--and the business in general--to be successful.

This panel session brings together managers of internal and external environmental test laboratories to discuss methodologies, issues, and successes that are both common and unique in nature.  Discussion will be facilitated by a moderator with experience in environmental testing; however, audience participation is welcome and encouraged. 

 

To submit an abstract for one of the above topics, please click here.