Experimental validation of massively actuated deformable adaptive mirror numerical models

The simulation results obtained using a multidisciplinary model of a deformable, massively actuated adaptive mirror are compared with experimental data retrieved using an adaptive shell equipped with 45 non-contacting voice coils actuators. A description of the physical model and of the experimental setup is followed by the results obtained simulating actual experimental tests and by their correlation with the related true measurements. The significance of various modeling details and their effects on the correlation is discussed. The results show a remarkable match between numerical and experimental data.