Description of and preliminary tests results for the Joint Damping Experiment (JDX)

An effort is currently underway to develop an experiment titled joint Damping E_periment (JDX) to fly on the Space Shuttle as Get Away Special Payload G-726. This project is funded by NASA's IN-Space Technology Experiments Program and is scheduled to fly in July 1995 on STS-69. JDX will measure the influence of gravity on the structural damping of a three bay truss having clearance fit pinned joints. Structural damping is an important parameter in the dynamics of space structures. Future space structures will require more precise knowledge of structural damping than is currently available. The mission objectives are to develop a small-scale shuttle flight experiment that allows researchers to: (1) characterize the influence of gravity and joint gaps on structural damping and dynamic behavior of a small-scale truss model, and (2) evaluate the applicability of low-g aircraft test results for predicting on-orbit behavior. Completing the above objectives will allow a better understanding and/or prediction of structural damping occurring in a pin jointed truss. Predicting damping in joints is quite difficult. One of the important variables influencing joint damping is gravity. Previous work has shown that gravity loads can influence damping in a pin jointed truss structure. Flying this experiment as a GAS payload will allow testing in a microgravity environment. The on-orbit data (in micro-gravity) will be compared with ground test results. These data will be used to help develop improved models to predict damping due to pinned joints. Ground and low-g aircraft testing of this experiment has been completed. This paper describes the experiment and presents results of both ground and low-g aircraft tests which demonstrate that damping of the truss is dramatically influenced by gravity.