Valgewicht

Valgewicht (literally "fall weight") is a Dutch term used in engineering, safety, and teaching contexts to denote a known mass used to simulate a falling load or to calibrate measurement devices. In practice, a valgewicht is a defined mass mounted on a support, released or subjected to controlled motion to generate a specified impact or tension. It is used in drop tests to assess the response of equipment, materials, and safety systems to falling loads.

In fall protection engineering, valgewicht is employed to simulate the force of a person or object falling to validate harnesses, lanyards, anchors, and energy absorbers. In metrology and instrumentation, it serves as a reference mass for calibrating force sensors or load cells. In education and demonstrations, a valgewicht can illustrate gravity, acceleration, and energy transfer.

The exact mass and procedure are determined by the relevant standard, protocol, or experimental design and can vary between industries, countries, and institutions. The term is mainly found in Dutch-language sources and occasionally appears in translations describing testing methods that involve a known falling mass.

Etymology: valgewicht comes from val (fall) and gewicht (weight). See also: drop test, impact testing, calibration weight.