Modal survey test of the Bartolomeo Platform

Abstract

This Paper presents the Modal Survey Test (MST) performed by the Institute of Aeroelasticity of the German Aerospace Center (DLR-AE) on the Bartolomeo Platform. Bartolomeo is a project of AIRBUS Defence and Space aiming at a commercial use of the International Space Station (ISS). Before the launch to the ISS, a Modal Survey Test has been conducted on the Bartolomeo Platform. The purpose of the test was to determine an equivalent modal model including: eigenfrequencies, mode shapes, generalized mass, damping ratios and also Frequency Response Functions (FRF's). These modal parameters identified from the real structure were used by AIRBUS Defence and Space for updating the Finite Element (FE) model. The updated FE model and the experimental damping ratios will be used for coupled loads analysis.