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Date of Award
2023
Document Type
Campus Access Master's Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering (MS)
Administrative Home Department
Department of Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics
Advisor 1
Lyon King
Committee Member 1
Jason Sommerville
Committee Member 2
Kurt Terhune
Committee Member 3
Wayne Weaver
Abstract
This paper covers the design, development, and testing of a null-type inverted pendulum thrust stand intended to measure the thrust of a low-power Hall-effect thruster. The calibration system and control algorithm are described along with the atmosphere testing conducted prior to testing in vacuum. This thrust stand was tested in vacuum with an Aurora Hall-effect thruster, and the performance of the calibration procedure, control loops, and thrust drift were evaluated. The thrust stand showed a relative calibration uncertainty of 1.242%. The overall uncertainty of the thrust measurement at a nominal 19 mN operating point was shown to be 0.411 mN, or 2.16%. Temperature was proven to be a large factor in stable-power thrust drift.
Recommended Citation
Kalkman, Joshua M., "DESIGN, DEVELOPMENT, AND TESTING OF AN INVERTED PENDULUM THRUST STAND FOR LOW POWER HALL-EFFECT THRUSTERS", Campus Access Master's Thesis, Michigan Technological University, 2023.