Spacecraft Impact and Shock Testing Is Needed to Reduce the Significant Uncertainty in Shock Analysis and Shock Subsystem Testing

Document Type

Conference Proceeding

Publication Date

1-1-2024

Department

Department of Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics

Abstract

It is well known in the aerospace industry that performing shock analysis and testing on spacecraft is very difficult (Yunis, ShockSat: a system to provide public data for advancing shock prediction, 2022; Kennedy et al., ShockSat testing and analysis results, 2023; Sisemore and Babuska, The science and engineering of mechanical shock, Springer, 2020; NASA-STD-7003A, Pyroshock test criteria, 2011; NASA-HDBK-7005, Dynamics environmental criteria, 2001; ECSS-E-HB-32-25A, Space engineering mechanical shock design and verification handbook, European Cooperation for Space Standardization, 2015; Kennedy and Blough, Guidelines for reducing uncertainty in shock analysis and testing, 2022; MIL-STD-810G, Environmental engineering considerations and laboratory tests, Department of Defense Test Method Standard, 2008) (leading to significantly larger analysis and testing errors—as much as an order of magnitude shock levels at some frequencies (NASA-HDBK-7005, Dynamics environmental criteria, 2001]), and it is the main reason why it is so far behind other types of vibration analysis and testing like sine and random vibration (with acceleration response errors perhaps 10–20% at critical frequencies). These types of large errors are mostly a result of not enough spacecraft-level shock testing being performed. Based on the shock research conducted for the past 2 ½ years, the number one finding that will significantly improve shock analysis and testing is that shock testing at the spacecraft level needs to become routine, just like sine and random vibration testing.

Publication Title

Conference Proceedings of the Society for Experimental Mechanics Series

ISBN

[9783031681837]

Link to Full Text

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