The SPIRIT Project at Penn State Structures Team

Deckplate Testing/Qualification-April '06

Inorder to flight certify the deckplates, a break test was performed. The test was setup to simulate the launch loads and the attachment to the vertical supports. The load was distributed along 4 x 6 inch area which represented the loading area of a circuit tray component. Three strain rosettes were also placed lineraly along one axis of the plate to learn about the stress profiles. The resulting values were analyzed and will be compared to the similar gages used in flight.

Beginning of test

Middle of test, deformation is seen. The plate goal is to be able to withstand 15 pounds of electronics with a launch load of 50g. The plates easily surpassed this requirment. The picture above is the point of the test where the deckplates have a safety factor of 2 of the required.

Deckplate right before significant cracking.