Boekhold, Pieter van (2026) NEBULA-Xplorer Concentrator Alignment. Design Project, Mechanical Engineering.
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Abstract
This report presents the design and structural assessment of the alignment modules for the NEBULA-Xplorer X-ray concentrators. The study focuses on developing a structure capable of maintaining precise (<15 arcseconds) optical alignment under launch and operational conditions. Requirement definitions were established and the design concept of a flexural implementation of an adjustable Maxwell mount was selected. This was followed by detailed modelling and validation using finite element analysis. Structural performance was evaluated through fatigue, vibration, and thermal analyses to ensure compliance with the mission environment. Fatigue assessment demonstrated sufficient durability under vibrational loading according to Zhao-Baker rainflow counting fatigue damage calculations. Thermal simulations showed limited deformation across expected temperature variations, indicating stable optical performance. Material selection and geometric optimization contributed to achieving a balance between system stiffness, adjustment precision and manufacturability. Results indicate that the proposed alignment module meets key structural and functional requirements, maintaining alignment accuracy while withstanding environmental loads encountered during launch and space operation.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Design Project) |
|---|---|
| Supervisor name: | Wilhelm, E. and GhandchiTehrani, M. |
| Degree programme: | Mechanical Engineering |
| Thesis type: | Design Project |
| Language: | English |
| Date Deposited: | 20 Feb 2026 15:09 |
| Last Modified: | 20 Feb 2026 15:09 |
| URI: | https://fse.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/37242 |
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