Dr Maria Ribeira Vicent

Mathematical finite element models (FEMs) of spacecraft are relied upon for the prediction of loads experienced during launch and flight events. It is essential that the spacecraft is able to survive the launch environment without sustaining damage which could inhibit its ability to carry out its mission. Therefore, ensuring that these FEMs give a realistic representation of the physical spacecraft structural dynamics is an important task. To achieve a high level of confidence in the FEM in question, a correlation activity is conducted. This is the process of applying various metrics to compare computational results, from analysis of the FEM, with corresponding data derived from measurements taken of the physical hardware during vibration testing. Subsequently, updates are applied to the FEM where necessary to achieve an acceptable level of correlation. It is possible for spacecraft FEM correlation exercises to take a considerable amount of time and effort without necessarily achieving an appreciable improvement in the final FEM. As such, this project has been conducted to address the need to ensure that the procedures being applied are as effective and efficient as possible. Various aspects of the spacecraft FEM correlation process have been investigated separately, and interactions between the different stages in the process have also been considered. Two large, unique, scientific spacecraft have been used as example applications in order to carry out these studies. As well as making use of computational results from the spacecraft FEMs, this project has also included comparisons to the results from the corresponding base-shake sine-sweep test campaigns conducted on these structures. A number of noteworthy, and industrially beneficial, findings relating to the effectiveness of the spacecraft FEM correlation process have resulted from these studies: the most appropriate techniques of modal parameter estimation for the considered spacecraft applications have been established; the potential benefits and relative merits of different pre-test sensor placement procedures have been explored; inaccuracies introduced through the use of a commonly applied FEM reduction method have been demonstrated and a superior alternative identified. In addition, the efficiency of the correlation and update process has also been addressed. This has mainly been achieved through investigations concerning the applicability of commonly used target mode selection criteria to spacecraft applications, and the potential benefits of a less widely applied method which takes into consideration the expected loading scenarios to be experienced by the considered structures.