A large number of new satellite and launch vehicle concepts have been suggested in the last few years, and many are undergoing development at this time. The development of these vehicles is taking advantage of the dramatic improvement in structural dynamic modeling methods that have been introduced in the last few years. While many successful launch vehicles were developed using simple "stick" models with a few hundred or maybe a few thousand DOF, vehicles developed in the last few years are likely to leverage advances in finite element methods and computational power to develop very complex three-dimensional models with considerable detail and hundreds of thousands of DOF. While these complex models can be used to predict detailed dynamic responses with a greatamount of accuracy, complexity in itself does not necessarily imply more accurate results. The complexity of the model can also lead to further difficulties in modeling associated phenomena such as sloshing fluids and accurately recovering certain physical responses.

ATA can offer the insight necessary to determine the appropriate complexity of three-dimensional models to recover accurate results. ATA's background in coupled loads analysis of satellites and launch vehicles has demonstrated our ability to accurately predict the dynamic responses of aerospace vehicles, even with the added complexity of damping and fluid sloshing.

Technical Papers

Blelloch, P. "Advanced methods in Launch Vehicle Coupled Loads Analysis."

Blelloch, P.A., and N. Tengler, "Application of Hruda-Benfield Method to Component Damping for Space Shuttle Coupled Loads," 35th AIAA Structures, Structural Dynamics and Materials Conference, Hilton Head, SC, Apr. 18-20, 1994. [folder 358]

Flanigan, C., and R. Manella, "Advanced Coupled Load Analysis Using MSC/NASTRAN®," 1991. [folder 310]