Raccolta casi Working Model, visualNastran & SimWise - AMCB
Contatto Editoriale:
Paolo Lista,
Lista Studio srl®
Borgo Belvigo 33, 36016 Thiene Vi ITALY
tel/fax 0445,372479 o info@lista.it
Army Research Laboratory masters launch dynamics with Working Model(r) 2D & 3D
Recently, the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) challenged the Army
Research Laboratory's Advanced Munitions Concepts Branch (AMCB) to
create conceptual designs for launching puck-shaped sensor-carrying
projectiles from a low Earth-orbiting satellite or sounding rocket
host vehicle.
The projectile, or "sensorcraft," is designed
to study the Earth's magnetic fields.
The Army Research Laboratory's Weapons and Materials Directorate,
located at the Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland, conducts ballistics,
propulsion and flight, materials, and other types of research for the Army,
other governmental agencies, and contractors.
AMCB specializes in
developing low-cost, highly shock resistant, microelectromechanical in-flight
telemetry/measurement instrumentation for munition systems.
This work requires mechanical and electronics packaging design and analysis
as well as prototype fabrication and testing.
Among the Laboratory's clients is the JPL.
Managed for NASA by the California Institute of Technology, the JPL is
the lead U.S. center for robotic exploration of the solar system.
JPL spacecraft have visited all known planets except Pluto.
In addition to its work for NASA, JPL conducts tasks for a variety of
other federal agencies.
In addition, JPL manages the worldwide Deep
Space Network, which communicates with spacecraft and conducts scientific
investigations from its complexes in California's Mojave Desert.
The Simulation and Design Challenge
JPL provided John Condon, an AMCB mechanical engineer, with certain criteria for the sensorcraft, including its weight, shape, and geometry. The sensorcraft measures six centimeters in diameter by two centimeters in width, similar in appearance to a hockey puck. JPL stipulated that the sensorcraft would launch from a satellite or other launch vehicle.
Simulation Replaces Hand Calculations
Prior to joining the AMCB in October 1996, Condon had not used a simulation tool for dynamics and kinematics. However, he decided he needed such a tool for this branch because it deals extensively with mechanisms."Without a simulation tool we would have had to resort to 'back of the envelope' hand calculations and building detailed physical models," Condon says.
"The labor costs and the time required to complete extensive hand calculations and build detailed physical models were prohibitive.
Without a simulation tool, it would have taken about two months for this project alone."
Condon evaluated Working Model(r) from Working Model, Inc. and
Adams software.
During October 1996, Condon selected Working Model
after evaluating its cost and capabilities. Today, Condon runs Working
Model 2D 4.0.1 and Working Model 3D 2.0 on a Pentium-based PC.
In addition to Working Model, he uses AutoCAD(r) for design and
Algor for structural finite element stress analysis.
Launch Dynamics
Recently, Condon completed Phase I conceptual design of a
canister-shaped and drive wheel-based launcher that will deploy
JPL's sensorcraft.
He used Working Model 2D 4.0.1 to simulate the
indexing or holding, advancing and releasing of the sensorcraft as
they traveled from the storage canister to the drive wheels of the
launcher just before being ejected by the friction drive wheels.
According to Condon, Working Model enabled him to learn about the
advancing dynamics-how the sensorcrafts would move through the launcher.
He simulated the internal moving parts of the launcher, including the
springs, dampers, and a plunger that would push the next sensorcraft
into position for launch.
AMCB provided JPL with a detailed conceptual design report and an estimate
detailing the costs involved in building a full-scale launcher prototype,
based on predictions made by the Working Model software.
All together, the launcher would contain approximately 20 components,
including the indexing subsystem's springs, dampers and solenoids.
"The measuring tools inherent in Working Model helped me complete
the launcher project," Condon says.
%quot;For example, I studied the axial velocities of each sensorcraft
as it traveled through the canister. I used the time meter to apply
retraction forces for the indexing solenoids and manipulated how fast
a sensorcraft was advanced up to the launcher's primary friction drive
wheels by adjusting the spring and damper constraints of the advancement
plunger.
In the end, the solution I came up with was for the canister
to hold 10 to 12 sensorcrafts to be ejected one at a time at about one-second intervals."
"Programs such as Working Model enable us to evaluate our
options before we build subscale or full-scale prototypes,"
Condon concludes.
"This saves time and money."
