A passive vibration isolation platform for countermeasure hardware on the International Space Station (ISS) was designed to preserve a microgravity environment. This work was performed in conjunction with NASA's Johnson Space Center Biomedical Division (Houston, TX). The countermeasure hardware, including a cycle ergometer, treadmill and resistive device, is used to counteract adverse physiological effects on crews of extended exposure to microgravity. Combining all vibration isolation systems on a single platform has the advantage of being simple, passive and adaptable. The design methodology included modeling the worst-case loading conditions, use of transfer functions characterizing the ISS vibration response and comparison of the resulting vibration spectra with allocations of permitted disturbance acceleration. Results show the primary driving factors were device orientation and ergonomics. Three configurations were identified which met the requirement for access, storability and remained within the allowable disturbance allocations.

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• Gatchell, Jennifer L.
• Stafford, Kendra Ely
• Vincent, Amy Ruth

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• 04D267M

Advisor

• Blandino, John J.

Year

• 2004

Sponsor

• NASA

Date created

• 2004-01-01

Resource type

• Major Qualifying Project

Major

• Mechanical Engineering

Rights statement

• In Copyright