Dynamic analysis of satellite sandwich panels: Experimental and Numerical approach

The current investigation focuses on design, analysis and dynamic response of the sample of micro-satellite Aluminum panel structure. Aluminum face sheet sandwich panels have been manufactured and are studied. Modal tests have been performed with impact hammer equipment. Modal analysis have been done with 2D and 3D numerical models of sample satellite sandwich panel structure with commercial finite element (FE) code, ABAQUS 6.12.1. There is a good agreement between FE modeling and analytical stress results; also 6.73 % is the maximum discrepancy between numerical and experimental first 5th modal frequencies, also comparison between numerical predicted mode shapes and experimental ones implies a very good likeness.