Design and Optimization of Vertical Launcher Structure of Launch Vehicle Launching from the Ship Using Finite Element Method

Abstract

Launching pads are among the essential elements of missiles and their main function is to prepare missiles for launch. Tower launchers dimension and configuration depend on effective loads, dimension and weight of the missile. In the majority of tower launchers, two bars connected to each other with crossbar connectors are considered to be the basic parts. Therefore, it is essential to calculate accelerations (forces) applied from ship to structure of the tower launcher. Space frame element is used for designing and a finite element code has been written in MATLAB Software to calculate stress and deformities of the structure. A Genetic algorithm which is codified in MATLAB has been used for optimization. All of the written codes have been compared to experimental data and results confirm the accuracy and exactness of the outcome. In this design weight of the tower launcher was the target equation, displacement and yield stress were constraints and geometrical specifications of the cross section were variables.

Keywords

• structure design
• optimization
• tower launcher
• ship
• finite element method