Development of linear bearing equipment for modal testing
of low-frequency weakly damped spacecraft structures
Authors: Maksimov Valentin N. , Marinin Dmitriy A. , Maksimov Pavel N. , Nazar'ko Aleksey V. 
Published: October 2024

This article presents the results of a study of the bearing capacity and dissipative properties of an aerostatic linear bearing developed at JSC RESHETNEV for modal testing of complex structures. When selecting equipment for modal testing, the main condition is the requirement to minimize the distortions introduced into the determined dynamic characteristics: frequencies of natural vibration modes, the vibration modes themselves, as well as modal masses and damping coefficients. In other words, all equipment used for ground-based modal testing should ideally have zero added mass, stiffness and friction. The main systems containing elements that create dissipative forces that affect the determination of damping coefficients are systems for weight compensation and vibration excitation on natural modes. The weight compensation system usually contains either elastic elements or a system of guides with rolling or sliding bearings. If the former bring additional rigidity and mass to the test object, the latter bring mass and friction (dry or viscous), which increases the error in determining the dynamic characteristics. The excitation of vibrations on natural modes, in most cases, is carried out by electrodynamic vibrators consisting of a magnetization coil (or permanent magnet) and a movable coil moving in a magnetic gap. The movable coil is oriented in the magnetic gap using a special system containing either elastic elements or a linear guide bearing. Vibrators with elastic coil suspension elements cannot be used for modal tests of extended structures with low rigidity. The problem of creating an ideal bearing to replace classic linear (sliding or roller) ones arose during preparation for modal tests of the wing of a solar battery of a spacecraft (SC). Aerostatic bearings (supports) have virtually zero friction and sufficient load-bearing capacity, in which compressed air acts as a lubricant, eliminating physical contacts of the interacting surfaces. To confirm the possibility of using aerostatic bearings in equipment for conducting modal tests of extended structures with low frequencies of natural oscillations, comparative tests of a roller and aerostatic bearing were carried out. During the tests, optimal air flow parameters (nozzle diameter, operating pressure and gap) were selected, which ensure the required load-bearing capacity for radial forces and torques (bending and torsion). A comparative assessment of dissipative properties was carried out when measuring the attenuation parameters of single-mass harmonic oscillators, which include aerostatic and roller linear bearings. With a nozzle diameter of 0.6 mm, a working gap of 40 μm and a bearing input pressure of 1.0 bar, the logarithmic decrement of oscillations of the harmonic oscillator with an aerostatic bearing was 0.084, which is more than 28 times lower than the logarithmic decrement of oscillations of an oscillator with a roller bearing. The conducted studies confirmed the possibility of using the developed aerostatic bearing in test systems used in modal tests of large-sized transformable spacecraft structures.