Large space structures, such as the NASA Space Station, which cannot be fully tested in a ground test laboratory, require both ground testing and on-orbit identification of as-built structures. This project addressed ground-testing procedures which are critical to the success of on-orbit identification. Innovative methods for evaluating and improving the predictive accuracy of structural dynamics models were investigated during the Phase I study. This effort identified a new methodology for evaluating uncertainties in mass, stiffness, and damping and how these propagate forward and backward in order to evaluate the accuracy of response predictions and the uncertainty in physical parameters.Potential Commercial Application:Applications exist in all areas where analytical models are relied upon to predict structural performance which cannot be directly verified by testing. Examples include off-shore structures, nuclear power plants, high-rise buildings, and numerous applications in the aerospace industry.STATUS: Project Proceded to Phase II
