On Orbit Validation of Structural Health Monitoring by a Low-cost Technological Mission
- Paper number
IAC-08.C2.5.2
- Author
Mr. Andrea Bucchi, Università di Roma "La Sapienza", Italy
- Coauthor
Prof. Paolo Gaudenzi, University of Rome "La Sapienza", Italy
- Year
2008
- Abstract
Structural health monitoring techniques have acquired a more and more attention for the future space missions, due to the increased need in terms of safety and reliability of space vehicles. A number of sensing technologies have been proved on ground to validate on line measurements of the mechanical response of space systems. Piezoelectric materials and optical fibres have been successfully used for sensing purposes in a large variety of application. The measurements have been then organised in the frame of structural health monitoring techniques. Piezo materials have also been tested for actuation and used in the frame of closed loop vibration control devices. Aim of this work is demonstrate the on-orbit reliability of piezo-electric technologies, for structural sensing purposes. Structural health monitoring could be achieved in a profitable way with piezo-electric sensor and different kind of mission could be designed. A low cost mission is analysed using a picosatellite platform as Cubesat. Cubesat permits, the development of a small mission, with a reduced effort in terms of time, economic and human resources. This proposed mission uses the future European launcher Vega and a Cubesat as secondary payload and could be scheduled among the first Vega missions in order to set and better describe mechanical launcher environment into the fairing; following missions could use piezo-electric for an in orbit spacecraft structural health monitoring. Mission is dived into two phase: the launch and the orbit. During launch phase the vibration level is registered by piezoelectric sensors installed as primary payload on Cubesat. A plate with piezoelectric patches is used as a middle panel into the Cubesat structure; direct piezo-electric effect permits to convert the mechanical environment (vibration) into electric output as a voltage. Voltage output is sampled and converted in a digital output suitable for on-board memory and signal data capture is completed. During orbit phase Cubesat sends data to ground station for the vibration level recorded; sampling rate (during the launch) and data rate (downlink) assure the complete data transfer (between satellite and ground station) in a limited number of orbits. Sizing of satellite sub-systems and choice of hardware equipment are completed by an estimation of the cost.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
IAC-08.C2.5.2.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).
To get the manuscript, please contact IAF Secretariat.