Simulation design method of free boundary simulator for high precision spacecraft on orbit

The reproduction of on-orbit free boundary is one of the key technologies for highly accurate ground micro-vibration test of high precision optical spacecraft. This paper focuses on the simulation design method of the free boundary simulator based on finite element method (FEM). The preliminary design is modeled by one-dimensional spring elements, which is effective to optimize the critical design parameters. Then the detailed design model is established to verify the capability of strength, the stability and the modal performance of the free boundary simulator. The actual simulator is manufactured according to the simulation design. And the test of the actual simulator indicates that, the simulation results match well with the experimental results. The development of the free boundary simulator of spacecraft can be instructed effectively by the simulation method in this paper.