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Composite Payload Fairing Structural Architecture Assessment and SelectionThis paper provides a summary of the structural architecture assessments conducted and a recommendation for an affordable high performance composite structural concept to use on the next generation heavy-lift launch vehicle, the Space Launch System (SLS). The Structural Concepts Element of the Advanced Composites Technology (ACT) project and its follow on the Lightweight Spacecraft Structures and Materials (LSSM) project was tasked with evaluating a number of composite construction technologies for specific Ares V components: the Payload Shroud, the Interstage, and the Core Stage Intertank. Team studies strived to address the structural challenges, risks and needs for each of these vehicle components. Leveraging off of this work, the subsequent Composites for Exploration (CoEx) effort is focused on providing a composite structural concept to support the Payload Fairing for SLS. This paper documents the evaluation and down selection of composite construction technologies and evolution to the SLS Payload Fairing. Development of the evaluation criteria (also referred to as Figures of Merit or FOMs), their relative importance, and association to vehicle requirements are presented. A summary of the evaluation results, and a recommendation of the composite concept to baseline in the Composites for Exploration (CoEx) project is presented. The recommendation for the SLS Fairing is a Honeycomb Sandwich architecture based primarily on affordability and performance with two promising alternatives, Hat stiffened and Fiber Reinforced Foam (FRF) identified for eventual program block upgrade.
Document ID
20120009204
Acquisition Source
Glenn Research Center
Document Type
Other
Authors
Krivanek, Thomas M. (NASA Glenn Research Center Cleveland, OH, United States)
Yount, Bryan C. (NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA, United States)
Date Acquired
August 25, 2013
Publication Date
May 21, 2012
Subject Category
Spacecraft Design, Testing And Performance
Report/Patent Number
E-18094
Meeting Information
Meeting: Society for the Advancement of Material and Process Engineering (SAMPE) conference
Location: Baltimore, MD
Country: United States
Start Date: May 21, 2012
End Date: May 24, 2012
Funding Number(s)
WBS: WBS 573754.01.01.02.03
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

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