Improvements Are Needed by the Customer and Launch Vehicle Provider on Spacecraft Shock Loads, Required Analysis, and Required Testing

Document Type

Conference Proceeding

Publication Date

9-30-2024

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 to do (Yunis S, ShockSat: A system to provide public data for advancing shock prediction. Spacecraft and launch vehicle dynamic environments workshop. 28–30 June 2022; Kennedy M, Blough, J, ShockSat testing and analysis results. SCLV 2023 proceedings; Sisemore C, Babuska, V, The science and engineering of mechanical shock. Springer, 2020; NASA-STD-7003A, Pyroshock test criteria, 20 Dec 2011; NASA-HDBK-7005, Dynamics environmental criteria, 13 Mar 2001; Space Engineering Mechanical Shock Design and Verification Handbook. European Cooperation for Space Standardization. ECSS-E-HB-32-25A, 14 July 2015; Kennedy M, Blough J, Guidelines for reducing uncertainty in shock analysis and testing. SAVE 2022 proceedings; MIL-STD-810G, Environmental engineering considerations and laboratory tests. Department of Defense Test Method Standard, 31 Oct 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, 13 Mar 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 less spacecraft-level shock testing. To help reduce these difficulties, customers who procure spacecraft and the launch vehicle providers that put spacecraft into orbit need to improve their approach to shock loads. They typically treat shock loads the same as other loads. Shock loads are entirely different from any other loads that a spacecraft will be exposed to, and as such clearer and more consistent direction and additional information are needed than are currently being provided.

Publication Title

Conference Proceedings of the Society for Experimental Mechanics Series

ISBN

[9783031681837]

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