The NASA has improved its methods for analyzing shocks and vibrations endured by launch vehicles and spacecraft during liftoff and ascent to orbit, aiming to enhance mission safety. Engineers from the Dynamic Environments Group of the Launch Services Program Office, based at Kennedy Space Center in Florida, have developed a standardized workflow using commercial finite element modeling software.
This software, typically seldom used in this field, enables prediction of structural behavior under extreme stresses even before hardware is built. It helps identify weak points and potential failure risks early, allowing for corrective measures upstream.
Recently, this method was applied to certify a commercial launch vehicle selected for a NASA mission. While the commercial partner had provided vibration testing, shock testing had not been performed. The dynamic group used their model to simulate these shocks, conduct comparisons, and visualize structural behavior, thereby providing new insights into risks related to transportation and launch.
According to Brian Beaver, head of the Flight Analysis Division, this computational approach enhances safety by anticipating the effects of extreme environments. Aerospace engineer Alex Hardt highlights that this innovative use of an established tool opens new perspectives in dynamic analysis of launch vehicles.
Although shocks and vibrations are accounted for in launch vehicle design, they remain potential sources of wear or in-flight failure, especially during launch and ascent. This advancement thus better prepares hardware for these severe conditions, contributing to the success of space missions.
