Experimental Dynamic Load Simulation by means of Modal Force Vectors, WP5-Report; Experimental Application on a Real Space Structure. ESA-Contract-No. 7509/87/NL/PP.

Abstract

The study "Experimental Dynamic Load Simulation by means of Modal Force Vectors" investigates a new structural dynamic test method for simulation of distributed dynamic loads. The simulation is performed by a multi-point excitation scheme, and the simulation force histories are calculated by means of modal force vectors. The previous work package reports describe the theoretical background, the related test software, and experimental application on test structures. A systematic investigation of three versions of the modalforce combination (MFC) method was performed in Work Package 4. Basedon those results, the MFC technique was applied within Work Package 5on a space structure in order to investigate the conditions of the application of the MFC method. An engineering model of a satellite antenna, ESTEC'S Shaped Dual Reflector, was chosen as the candidate structure. The WP5-Report describes the performed tests. The results attained are discussed, and topics for further investigation are pointed out. Additionally, the combination of transient tests, such as the MFC method with non-contact stress measurement, was investigated. Related results are also presented.