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Aeroelastic Ground Wind Loads Analysis Tool for Launch VehiclesLaunch vehicles are exposed to ground winds during rollout and on the launch pad that can induce static and dynamic loads. Of particular concern are the dynamic loads caused by vortex shedding from nearly-cylindrical structures. When the frequency of vortex shedding nears that of a lowly-damped structural mode, the dynamic loads can be more than an order of magnitude greater than mean drag loads. Accurately predicting vehicle response to vortex shedding during the design and analysis cycles is difficult and typically exceeds the practical capabilities of modern computational fluid dynamics codes. Therefore, mitigating the ground wind loads risk typically requires wind-tunnel tests of dynamically-scaled models that are time consuming and expensive to conduct. In recent years, NASA has developed a ground wind loads analysis tool for launch vehicles to fill this analytical capability gap in order to provide predictions for prelaunch static and dynamic loads. This paper includes a background of the ground wind loads problem and the current state-of-the-art. It then discusses the history and significance of the analysis tool and the methodology used to develop it. Finally, results of the analysis tool are compared to wind-tunnel and full-scale data of various geometries and Reynolds numbers.
Document ID
20160007745
Acquisition Source
Langley Research Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
External Source(s)
Authors
Ivanco, Thomas G.
(NASA Langley Research Center Hampton, VA, United States)
Date Acquired
June 20, 2016
Publication Date
January 4, 2016
Subject Category
Spacecraft Design, Testing And Performance
Report/Patent Number
NF1676L-21654
Meeting Information
Meeting: AIAA SciTech Conference
Location: San Diego, CA
Country: United States
Start Date: January 4, 2016
End Date: January 8, 2016
Sponsors: American Inst. of Aeronautics and Astronautics
Funding Number(s)
WBS: WBS 432938.11.01.07.43.40.08
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.
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