Whole-spacecraft launch-vibration isolation systems are attractive for achieving the goal of better, faster, cheaper, and lighter small satellites by reducing the design-load and vibration-test specifications for on-board components. In this study, a three-axis passive launch-vibration isolation system, based on superelastic shape memory alloy (SMA) technology, was developed to significantly attenuate the dynamic launch loads transmitted to a small satellite. This provides a superior damping characteristic, achieved by superelastic SMA blades stiffened by multilayered thin plates with viscous lamina adhesive layers of acrylic tape. The basic characteristics of the proposed isolation system with various numbers of viscoelastic multilayers were obtained through a static load test. In addition, the effectiveness of the design was validated through a launch environment simulating sine and random vibration tests.
In a launch environment, all satellites are subjected to severe random vibration and acoustic loads owing to rocket separation, airflow, and injection/combustion of the fuel. Structural vibrations induced by mechanical loads cause the malfunction of vibration-sensitive components in a satellite, leading to failures during the launch process or an on-orbit mission. Therefore, in this study, a shape memory alloy-based vibration isolator was used on the connection between the launch vehicle and satellite to reduce the vibration transmission to a satellite. The vibration isolator exhibited a high performance in the vibration isolation, owing to the dynamic properties of super-elasticity and high damping. The vibration-reduction performance of the vibration isolator was experimentally verified using random vibration and acoustic tests in a structural thermal model of the satellite developed in the synthetic aperture radar technology experimental project. Owing to the super-elasticity and high attenuation characteristics of the vibration isolator, it was possible to significantly reduce the random vibration of the satellite in the launch environment. Although the mechanical load of the acoustic test mainly excited the antenna on the upper side of the satellite rather than the bottom side, the results of the acoustic test showed the same trend as the random vibration test. From this perspective, the vibration isolator can contribute to saving the costs required for satellite development. These advantages have made it possible to develop satellites according to the new space paradigm, which is a trend in the space industry worldwide.
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