The particular study case in this thesis is the shock test performed on the LISA Pathfinder satellite conducted in a laboratory environment on a dedicated test bed: Vega Shock Test Apparatus (VESTA). This test is considered fully representative to study shock levels produced by fairing jettisoning event at Vega Launcher Vehicle, which induces high shock loads towards the satellite. In the frame of this thesis, some transient response analyses have been conducted in MSC Nastran, and a shock simulation tool for the VESTA test configuration has been developed. The simulation tool is based on Nastran Direct Transient Response Analysis solver (SOL 109), and is representative of the upper composite of Vega with the LISA Pathfinder coupled to it. Post-processing routines of transient response signals were conducted in Dynaworks which served to calculate Shock Response Spectra (SRS). The simulation tool is a model of forcing function parameters for transient analysis which adequately correlates with the shock real test data, in order to understand how the effect of shock generated by the launcher is seen in the satellite and its sub-systems. Since available computation resources are limited the parameters for analysis were optimised for computation time, file size, memory capacity,  and model complexity. The forcing function represents a release of the HSS clamp band which is responsible for fairing jettisoning, thus the parameters which were studied are mostly concerning the modelling of this event. Among many investigated, those which visibly improved SRS correlation are radial forcing function shape, implementation of axial impulse, clamp band loading geometry and refined loading scheme. Integration time step duration and analysis duration were also studied and found to improve correlation.  From each analysis, the qualifying shock environment was then derived by linear scaling in proportion of the applied preload, and considering a qualification margin of 3dB. Consecutive tracking of structural responses along shock propagation path exposed gradual changes in responses pattern and revealed an important property that a breathing mode (n = 0) at the base of a conical Adapter translates into an axial input to the spacecraft. The parametrisation itself was based on responses registered at interfaces located in near-field (where the clamp band is located and forcing function is applied) and medium-field with respect to the shock event location. Following shock propagation path, the final step was the analysis of shock responses inside the satellite located in a far-field region, which still revealed a very good correlation of results. Thus, it can be said that parametrisation process was adequate, and the developed shock simulation tool can be qualified. However, due to the nature of shock, the tool cannot fully replace VESTA laboratory test, but can support shock assessment process and preparation to such test. In the last part of the thesis, the implementation of some finite element model improvements is investigated. Majority of the panels in spacecraft interior exhibited shock over-prediction due to finite element model limitation. Equipment units modelled as lump masses rigidly attached with RBE2 elements to the panel surface are a source of such local over-predictions. Thus, some of the units were remodelled and transient responses were reinvestigated. It was found that remodelling with either solid elements, or lump mass connected to RBE3 element and reinforced by RBE2 element, can significantly improve local transient responses. This conclusion is in line with conclusions found in ECSS Shock Handbook.

1. Einführung in die Theorie dynamischer Analysen mit Creo Simulate 2. Modalanalysen (Standard und mit Vorspannung) 3. Dynamische Analysen einschließlich Klassifizierung der Analysen; einige einfache Beispiele für eigene Studien (eine Welle unter Unwuchtanregung und ein Ein-Massen-Schwinger) sowie etliche Beispiele größerer dynamischer Systemmodelle aus unterschiedlichsten Anwendungsbereichen 4. Feedback an den Softwareentwickler PTC (Verbesserungsvorschläge und Softwarefehler) 5. Referenzen / 1. Introduction to dynamic analysis theory in Creo Simulate 2. Modal analysis (standard and with prestress) 3. Dynamic analysis, including analysis classification, some simple examples for own self-studies (shaft under unbalance excitation and a one-mass-oscillator) and several real-world examples of bigger dynamic systems 4. Feedback to the software developer PTC (enhancement requests and code issues) 5. References

1. Einführung in die Theorie dynamischer Analysen mit Creo Simulate 2. Modalanalysen (Standard und mit Vorspannung) 3. Dynamische Analysen einschließlich Klassifizierung der Analysen; einige einfache Beispiele für eigene Studien (eine Welle unter Unwuchtanregung und ein Ein-Massen-Schwinger) sowie etliche Beispiele größerer dynamischer Systemmodelle aus unterschiedlichsten Anwendungsbereichen 4. Feedback an den Softwareentwickler PTC (Verbesserungsvorschläge und Softwarefehler) 5. Referenzen / 1. Introduction to dynamic analysis theory in Creo Simulate 2. Modal analysis (standard and with prestress) 3. Dynamic analysis, including analysis classification, some simple examples for own self-studies (shaft under unbalance excitation and a one-mass-oscillator) and several real-world examples of bigger dynamic systems 4. Feedback to the software developer PTC (enhancement requests and code issues) 5. References

[pt] Neste trabalho é apresentado um estudo sobre a determinação matemática dos valores da dispersão cromática total, do zero de dispersão distribuído e efeitos não lineares em fibras ópticas de dispersão deslocada (DS). Uma metodologia para caracterização das dispersões cromáticas e para os zeros de dispersão local das fibras estudadas é elaborada com a utilização do modelo de fibra degrau equivalente e de aproximações entre as fibras ópticas dos enlaces trabalhados. A relação entre o diâmetro do campo modal e o zero de dispersão cromática distribuído segundo A. Rossaro [6] é discutida e comprovada através da realização de uma série de medidas práticas para a determinação dos efeitos não lineares das fibras de dispersão deslocada dos enlaces da Petrobrás. O objetivo deste trabalho é analisar estes efeitos prejudiciais a transmissão de sinais ópticos de alta velocidade apresentados nos cabos submarinos da Petrobrás entre o Porto de Imbetiba e as plataformas de Pargo I e Pampo I na Bacia de Campos, analisando os resultados obtidos e caracterizando as possibilidades de upgrade destes enlaces. / [en] This work presents a study on the mathematical determination of the total chromatic dispersion, zero dispersion wavelength and nonlinear optical effects in dispersion shifted (DS) fiber optic system. A methodology to determine the chromatic dispersion and zero dispersion wavelength is proposed using the equivalent step index model and the similarity of the total chromatic dispersion measured in fibers of the links under study. The relationship between the mode field diameter and the zero dispersion wavelength according to A. Rossaro [6] is discussed and proven with a series of practical measurements for the determination of the nonlinear effects of the dispersion shifted optical fibers of Petrobras links Imbetiba - Pargo and Imbetiba - Pampo of the Campos Basin. / [es] En este trabajo se presenta un estudio sobre la determinación matemática de los valores de dispersión cromática total, del cero de dispersión distribuido y los efectos no lineales en fibras ópticas de dispersión desplazada (DS). Se elabora una metodología para la caracterización de las dispersiones cromáticas y para los ceros de dispersión local de las fibras estudiadas; utililizando el modelo de fibra escalón equivalente y de aproximaciones entre las fibras ópticas de los enlace. Se discute la relación entre el diámetro del campo modal y el cero de dispersión cromática distribuido según A. Rosaro [6] se comprueba a través de la realización de una serie de medidas prácticas para la determinación de los efectos no lineales de las fibras de dispersión desplazada de los enlaces de la Petrobrás. EL objetivo de este trabajo es analizar los efectos perjudiciales a la transmisión de señales ópticos de alta velocidad que se presentan en los cables submarinos de la Petrobrás entre el Puerto de Imbetiba y las plataformas de Pargo I y Pampo I en la Bacia de Campos, analizando los resultados obtenidos y caracterizando las posibilidades de upgrade de estos enlaces.