Shock loading also occurs due to the acceleration of launch vehicle but just to get an idea, consider that you are sitting in a bus and it starts accelerating and you just get pushed backwards. What happens to you in the bus is just a very miniature version of what happens on the launch vehicle. <br \>

Launch vehicle experiences increasing acceleration along with vibration. Satellite acceleration changes with frequency of vibration of satellite.

* We need to ascertain that the maximum stress on the components is not greater than the yield strength of material. More precisely maximum stress should be within some factor of safety of the yield strength.

* If maximum stress exceeds yield strength then we have to make changes to maintain maximum stress within the desired range.

Harmonic analyses are done to determine whether a structure can survive the loads appearing during resonance resulting from the forced vibrations. It also helps in ensuring whether the structure will survive through fatigue.

In the case of a satellite the harmonic loads are applied by the launch vehicle. The structure of the satellite - its side panels, PCBs, screws etc must not get damaged during this loading. This analysis will also help determine the appropriate torque needed to be applied to the screws to not come off or fracture during launch. <br \>

If you are done reading this page, you can go back to [[Mechanical Subsystem]]