Prediction and adjustment method for shock response spectrum in mechanical impact type shock test for spacecraft instrument

Large shock responses are generated at the deployment of solar paddles and antennas of a spacecraft because the strain energy of retained parts are released almost instantaneously. Therefore, the shock resistance of spacecraft instruments must be verified before launch. Specially designed separation mechanisms or explosive devices have been used for spacecraft separation, but shock testing using these devices is costly, so alternative methods such as mechanical impact testing are used. Adjusting the shock response spectrum (SRS) in these tests to desired values is a difficult task that requires considerable expertise. In this paper, we present a method for tuning an SRS. This method involves inserting a structure between the base plate of shock tester and the test specimen in order to modify the vibration propagation characteristics. Due to its easy implementation, this method can also be applied to other mechanical shock testers in use. In addition, a method for predicting the SRS using the transfer function synthesis method is also proposed to facilitate the adjustment of the test level.