Vibratory loads and response prediction for a high-speed flight vehicle during launch events

Abstract

High-speed flight vehicles (HSFVs) such as space launch vehicles and missiles undergo severe dynamic loads which are generated during the launch and in in-flight environments. A typical vehicle is composed of thin plate skin structures with high-performance electronic units sensitive to such vibratory loads. Such lightweight structures are then exposed to external dynamic loads which consist of random vibration, shock, and acoustic loads created under the operating environment. Three types of dynamic loads (acoustic loads, rocket motor self-induced excitation loads and aerodynamic fluctuating pressure loads) are considered as major components in this study. The estimation results are compared to the design specification (MIL-STD-810) to check the appropriateness. The objective of this paper is to study an estimation methodology which helps to establish design specification for the dynamic loads acting on both vehicle and electronic units at arbitrary locations inside the vehicle.