Structural Coupling Analyses of Experimental Models in a Virtual Shaker Testing Environment for Numerical Prediction of a Spacecraft Vibration Test

Abstract

Translate Article

The paper addresses the methodologies required to derive a reliable and representative simulation environment for virtual shaker testing to predict the outcome of Spacecraft vibration tests numerically prior to its physical execution. The simulation environment needs to comprise the coupled dynamical models of the testing facility, structure under test and control system active during test. Especially, the paper focuses on modelling and experimental validation techniques for coupled test specimen models using the coupled head expander and beam test specimen system as validation test case. The main focus is set on the derivation of experimental test structure models which will be used in the future for modal coupling by applying Component Mode Synthesis and to assess the added value against alternative sub structuring techniques w.r.t. frequency bands and residual compensation, analysis of the measurement of required interface and connection point degrees-of-freedom and consideration of damping. Consequently, those experimental results are used to derive preliminary methodologies and guidelines to couple structural sub component models, and use them in further numerical closed-loop vibration control simulations. Consequently, the developed and experimentally derived structural dynamic models are coupled with a multi-physical electrodynamic shaker and sine controller model to virtually replicate sine control tests, followed by a validation with experimental test results and to be used in preliminary numerical investigations for vibration control performance enhancement.