Abstract
This article examines the new practice of Virtual Shaker Testing (VST), starting from its motivation to its practical implementations and future possible implications. The issues currently experienced during large satellites’ vibration testing are discussed, examining practical examples that highlight the coupling existing between the item under test and facility, and that are the basis for the motivation behind the new methodology (i.e. VST). VST is proposed as a way to bypass some of these issues, and here its use as a pre and post shaker test tool is discussed. In the article VST is applied to real test cases (Airbus’ large spacecraft Bepi Colombo, built for the European Space Agency's first mission to Mercury), showing computations and real physical test data to illustrate the advantages of the methodology. These are mostly in terms of de-risking of the physical test campaigns (due to the capability to simulate realistically the future physical test thus reducing the probability of aborts and stops during the runs), and an improvement of the quality of the correlation process and related FEM update (resulting from the capability to separate the dynamics of the satellite from the effects of the test equipment); ultimately providing a tool to address questions arising from test response observations, which are many. This tool also offers the possibility to improve vibration testing using 6 DOF facilities. The article is concluded articulating a possible way forward to take maximum advantage of the new methodology, drawing a parallel with the current Satellite/Launch Vehicle Coupled Load Analysis cycles, and proposing a different design and validation philosophy.