The ISS-P5 modal survey test planning through FEM reconciliation

This paper describes the International Space Station (ISS) P5 Short Spacer modal pretest analysis, modal test, model correlation and model reconciliation. Test article modal sensitivities were noted due primarily to strut-end spherical bearing tolerance. Sensitivity and FEM reconciliation analyses revealed that subtle changes in left side strut-end conditions permit tracking of measured mode changes. Based on the demonstrated quality of test data analyses and successful FEM reconciliation with respect to measured modes, NASA-JSC Structures Working Group (SWG) approved the reconciled P5 math models for subsequent logical development of model uncertainty factors (MUF) and Verification Loads Analysis (VLA).