Design and Analysis of a Metallic Ogive Payload Fairing for a New Generation Launch Vehicle

Abstract

Launch vehicles are designed so as to travel through different layers of the atmosphere and thus are subjected to aerodynamic forces. Payload fairing, also known as heat shield is the topmost part of any launch vehicle. They are used to shield the satellites and payloads from the external atmosphere and aerodynamic forces. This paper focuses on the design and analysis of an ogive shaped payload fairing for new generation launch vehicle. Integrally stiffened panels are used as skins made of Aluminium alloy- AA2014. The design is carried out for a transonic regime Mach number of 1.2. Finite element modelling and analysis are carried out in NISA software. Based on the analysis results, mass optimization is carried out for the structure. Buckling margins and natural frequencies are estimated for the optimum configuration. A comparison with an existing composite payload fairing of similar configuration shows that their masses are comparable and hence can be considered as an alternate design option.