Root-sum-square structural strength verification approach

Abstract

Utilizing a proposed fixture design or some variation thereof, this report presents a verification approach to strength test space flight payload components, electronics boxes, mechanisms, lines, fittings, etc., which traditionally do not lend themselves to classical static loading. The fixture, through use of ordered Euler rotation angles derived herein, can be mounted on existing vibration shakers and can provide an innovative method of applying single axis flight load vectors. The versatile fixture effectively loads protoflight or prototype components in all three axes simultaneously by use of a sinusoidal burst of desired magnitude at less than one-third the first resonant frequency. Cost savings along with improved hardware confidence are shown. The end product is an efficient way to verify experiment hardware for both random vibration and strength.