Abstract: A vibration test apparatus for vibrating a payload. The vibration test apparatus includes an inductive position sensor assembly which has a first member attached to a displaceable armature and a second member attached to a shaker frame. The inductive position sensor assembly is configured to generate at least one control signal indicative of an axial position of the armature based on a displacement dependent electromagnetic coupling between the first member and the second member.

Abstract: A vibration testing system (VTS) including a vibration testing apparatus, which includes a power amplifier operatively coupled to an electrodynamic shaker. The shaker includes a vibrateable armature mechanically coupled to a payload support structure. A data logger measures and records respective values of operational parameters of the shaker over time during mechanical excitation of the payload. A controller of the VTS reads and processes logged values of the operational parameters and determines an accumulated number of armature force cycles based on the recorded values of the operational parameters. The controller computes a remaining service-life or a consumed service life of the electrodynamic shaker based on the accumulated number of armature force cycles and a predetermined service-life of the vibration testing apparatus. The controller indicates on a display of the VTS the remaining service-life or the consumed service life of the vibration testing apparatus.