CubeSAt Random Vibration Analysis - Picutres Below

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 During my summer internship at the Space Systems Research Laboratory, I conducted Ansys random vibration analysis to ensure that the satellite could withstand the launch environment and make it to space safely. I had never done Ansys random vibration analysis, so I learned entirely on my own. I started by making a simplified model of the satellite that included only the structural components. I then made a mesh, checked for adequate elements, and applied acceleration preloading conditions using Ansys static structural. This simulated the launch vehicle accelerating upward during launch. I did three separate analyses, one for acceleration loading in the x, y, and z directions. At this point, we were unsure how the CubeSat would be oriented during launch, so behavior under multiple acceleration conditions needed to be analyzed. Then, I conducted Ansys modal analysis to find the system's modes of vibration for each acceleration direction, and I checked mass participation factors to ensure that all the relevant modes had been extracted. Lastly, I wrote a matlab script that randomly generates vibration sets (a group of vibration frequencies) that have a specified Grms value. I generated 6, 15 Grms sets; the University NanoSatellite Program required that CubeSats were able to withstand vibrations sets at this intensity. I then applied each vibration set to the CubSat using Ansys random vibration analysis. This process is described in the images below, and you can also download my submission to the University NanoSatellite Program for more details.