Synthesis of snubber's spectral characteristics for vibration protection of sensitive components in airborne gyrostabilized electro-optic payloads

Abstract

Low-frequency vibration isolation of airborne gyrostabilized electro-optic payloads is the ultimate and proven solution aimed at improving their imagery performance, primarily during a quiet cruise flight. This portion of the airborne mission is characterized by rather moderate environmental conditions, under which vibration mounts operate in a linear working range within the predefined working rattle space, which eventually results in better performances. Compliant snubbers are indispensable emergency components in such vibration protection arrangements primarily needed during exposure to the extreme environmental conditions typical of the relatively short periods of airborne missions such as take-off, landing, weapon application, etc. Their primary objective is to protect these soft vibration mounts and prevent their bottoming and disintegration without any impulsive accelerations that compromise the integrity of the payload frame and fragile internal components mounted upon it. The optimal approach for designing a snubbed vibration isolator, delivering a fail-safe environment for both the payload frame and critical components subjected to tight constraints imposed on the size, weight, and price does not seem to exist. It is intended to devise the optimal design approach and to demonstrate its application on low-frequency vibration mounted electro-optic payload comprising the vibration sensitive integrated dewar-detector-cooler assembly.