|
COSMOS helps predict effects of nuclear
detonation on spacecraft components
Company
Mission
Research Corporation |
Industry
Aerospace/Defense |
Location
U.S.A. |
Product Used
COSMOSM
|
Type of Analysis
Advanced Nonlinear
|
More Details
|
|
Continuing efforts in this research
area will give designers and analysts the capability
to accurately predict the effect of radiation
or other environmental impingement to spacecraft.
|
|
The Challenge
How can you predict whether military spacecraft and satellites
and their components will be able to survive the effects of nuclear
detonation, when you can't test them physically due to the nuclear
test moratorium?
The Solution
Mission Research Corporation approached the problem by comparing
the results of the final underground test with the results of
finite element analysis using COSMOSM in the case of a space-based
interceptor bridge structure made of an advanced metal matrix
composite material. Although the problem was linear in nature,
the temperature loading and structural geometry made it more of
a wave propagation problem -- and Mission Research conducted nonlinear
analysis.
The results of analyses correlated
well with the physical test, giving Mission Research the confidence
that they can predict the response of spacecraft and satellites
in the conditions that nuclear detonation would generate.
Summary and Metrics:
- Achieved excellent correlations obtained by a wide range of
test specimens and conditions
- Increased confidence in the analysis methodology and techniques
|
"...the
correlations of data and calculated strains are quite
good and suggest that both the magnitude and frequency
of response of the structure are modeled well."
Anthony D. Botting, Composite Structures Design
Engineer
|
|
