VIBMEC operates an in-house-developed pyroshock testing machine. The system is designed to subject components used in space missions to high-acceleration dynamic loads of up to 50000 g.
Such loads occur during specific phases of flight, including launch-vehicle stage separation and the deployment of structures such as antennas and solar panels, which may also be initiated using pyrotechnic devices. These events generate a shock wave that propagates through the spacecraft structure and can jeopardize sensitive equipment components, particularly those containing crystalline elements.
To reduce the risk of mission failure, international regulations and standards established by space agencies require an increasing number of components to undergo pyroshock testing. The target test profile is defined in terms of a Shock Response Spectrum (SRS), which provides a frequency-domain representation of the shock severity and its potential effect on the component.
The main international standards governing this field include:
- MIL-STD-810H, Method 517.3 — Pyroshock
- NASA-STD-7003
The test machine developed by VIBMEC can perform pyroshock tests along all three axes. It uses a resonant plate struck by a metal projectile driven by a pneumatic system.
The dynamic model of the machine developed by VIBMEC ensures a high degree of shock repeatability and significantly reduces test setup time.