Optimum distribution of static suspension forces for modal testing in a simulated weightless environment

摘要

This paper presents three methods for optimizing the distribution of static suspension forces to simulate a weightless environment. The three methods involve (1) minimizing the strain energy in the test article, (2) minimizing the difference between its zero-g and simulated zero-g eigenvalues, and (3) minimizing the difference between its zero-g and simulated zero-g eigenvalues and eigenvectors. Numerical examples demonstrate the superiority of the minimum eigenvalue approach over the minimum strain energy approach. The minimum eigenvalue/eigenvector approach did not improve upon the results of the minimum eigenvalue approach for this numerical example.