Copyright 1997, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Inc.

AIAA Meeting Papers on Disc, January 1997

A9715879, AIAA Paper 97-0882

Designing effective static tests for spacecraft structures

Thomas P. Sarafin
Instar Engineering and Consulting, Inc., Littleton, CO

AIAA, Aerospace Sciences Meeting & Exhibit, 35th, Reno, NV, Jan. 6-9, 1997

This paper describes and demonstrates a process for designing effective static tests for spacecraft structures. The emphasis is
on devising load cases that effectively simulate the extreme dynamic loads experienced during launch and screen the
structure for potential failures. The process entails devising preliminary load cases that deform the structure in its key excited
mode shapes, and then adjusting the cases to achieve target stresses and margins of safety. Although the discussion centers on
Downloaded by KUNGLIGA TEKNISKA HOGSKOLEN KTH on December 1, 2015 | http://arc.aiaa.org | DOI: 10.2514/6.1997-882

bus (body) structures, the described techniques apply to smaller structural assemblies and launch vehicles as well. (Author)

Page 1