Master (MSc) Thesis ''Structural Dynamics Test Jig for Spacecraft Equipment''

Vibrations generated by spacecraft equipment can propagate through a satellite and interfere with sensitive payloads. Building on earlier OHB Sweden research into reaction-wheel parameter estimation, this thesis aims to develop an affordable test setup for identifying mechanical properties and assessing structural or damping changes. The longer-term goal is to enable rapid in-house comparisons before formal qualification tests.

The assignment

• Compare concepts for a spring-supported flexible plate or table, including suitable sensors and measurement quantities.
• Create an analytical and/or finite element model of the setup, starting with a simple mechanical system.
• Develop a method for identifying stiffness, damping and modal properties from vibration responses, and verify it against simulated data with known parameters.
• Assess sensitivity and uncertainty in the models and parameter estimates.
• Design a practical test jig and investigate how it could quantify changes to brackets, damping materials or structural interfaces relative to a baseline.
• Document recommendations for further development and use at OHB Sweden.
• If time, hardware and funding permit, build the jig and perform experimental validation using a motor, an engineering model or an available reaction wheel.
• Potentially investigate impact-hammer excitation as an additional way to measure transfer functions through brackets or structural interfaces.

Who we are looking for

• Master’s-level student in Mechanical Engineering, Engineering Mechanics, Aerospace Engineering, Applied Physics or a related discipline.
• Strong understanding of mechanics, vibration behaviour and structural dynamics.
• Experience with analytical modelling or finite element analysis; familiarity with Optistruct/Hypermesh or MSC Nastran is preferred.
• Interest in experimental mechanics and practical engineering work.
• Additional merits include precision metrology, instrumentation, MATLAB or Python, vibration sensors and measurements, modal analysis, parameter identification or uncertainty analysis.

What we offer

• Guidance from engineers specialising in spacecraft mechanics and structural dynamics.
• Access to relevant earlier research and support with simulation, measurement and experimental methods.
• Use of available sensors, laboratory equipment and representative hardware where applicable.
• Successful thesis work may lead to future employment opportunities in OHB Sweden’s Mechanical & Thermal team.

Practical details

Location: Kista. The announcement does not specify a start date, duration or application deadline.