Microvibration Test Setup

A TDE funded activity, led by CSEM (Switzerland) together with Thales Alenia Space (France), improved the prediction and verification methods of modelling microvibrations. Microvibrations are a commonly occurring multi-disciplinary issue, impacting on several critical functions, including the design of structures & mechanisms, AOCS & GNC, optics and thermal control subsystems.

The activity focused on four main areas, including the:

• Development of mathematical models, developing detailed physical models of a cryo-cooler and a stepper motor which can predict the levels and frequencies of microvibrations generated during spacecraft operations.
• Improvement of prediction analysis methods, to propose alternative methods of predicting the combined effects of multiple noise sources.
• Investigations of micro-vibration testing techniques, where simplified testing methods may decrease the complexity of the end-to-end verification of microvibration requirements.
• Correlation of models and predictions with test data, to fine tune the models and validate the analysis methods.