Mechanical shock events are common in electrical fuses. Experienced during transportation, handling, and installation, they can significantly affect structural integrity. The internal failures resulting from these shocks can be difficult to diagnose, so designing to minimise their occurrence is paramount. This highlights the importance of understanding how mechanical shock impacts the fuse and of when this leads to failure. This paper investigates the response of fuse components to transient shock loading, with a particular emphasis on thin fuse elements, element-to-cap joints and ceramic bodies. Finite element modelling using COMSOL Multiphysics is employed to simulate high-acceleration shock events and identify stress concentrations associated with element snapping, joint failure and cracking. Controlled experimental shock testing is conducted to validate the modelling. The results demonstrate that mechanical shocks can induce stresses sufficient to cause mechanical damage and highlight the need to consider shock resilience in areas of fuse design.
 

Mechanical model,mechanical shock,Failure Analysis