Vibration Test Facility

The vibration test facility is covering the structural part of the environmental testing campaigns necessary for scientific payloads on space missions.

For the qualification of scientific payloads for space missions, as well as the validation of simulation models (Finite Element Method, FEM), the mechanical department operates a 35 kilo-Newton vibration test facility (shaker).
Derived from the start phase of various launch vehicles, load profiles can be "simulated" and the instruments accelerated in the range of 5 - 3000 Hz with up to 100 g (100 times the acceleration due to gravity) in all 3 spatial directions.
Using calibrated accelerometers and data acquisition and control software, the frequency behaviour of the structures is precisely analysed and compared with simulation models to ensure that the high requirements of the space agencies are met.