Thales Alenia Space has investigated the application of the Weibull law and associated size effects on Zerodur® in 2014, under CNES funding, through a thorough test campaign with a high number of samples (300) of various types. The purpose was to accurately determine the parameters of the Weibull law for Zerodur® when machined in the same conditions as mirrors. The proposed paper will discuss the obtained results, in the light of the Weibull theory. The applicability of the 2-parameter and 3-parameter (with threshold strength) laws will be compared. The expected size effect has not been evidenced therefore some investigations are led to determine the reasons of this result, from the test implementation quality to the data post-processing methodology. However this test campaign has already provided enough data to safely increase the allowable value for mirrors sizing. |
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CITATIONS
Cited by 3 scholarly publications.
Failure analysis
Mirrors
Space telescopes
Manufacturing
Statistical analysis
Space mirrors
Surface finishing