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Kimberly M. Halom
Washington University in St. Louis
Advisor: Richard Axelbaum
Abstract
A generalized representation of a Multi-Mission Earth Entry Vehicle (MMEEV) was created to be manipulated for future Earth Entry Vehicle (EEV) applications. From the tool, specific design parameters for all likely sample return missions are yielded from running iterative testing on the model. Scaling of the configuration is accomplished by applying behavioral modeling, particularly sensitivity and feasibility studies, to the MMEEV to determine what parts of the trade space are achievable.
All of the modeling and testing was performed in Pro/ENGINEER Wildfire 3.0. The behavioral modeling process consists of producing and analyzing the design model, performing design studies, and conducting sensitivity analyses. The innovative process incorporates tailored measurements for application-specific needs into the model. The new scaling configuration approach, coupled with applying linear relations, keeps the model much more consistent than past techniques that involved manually adjusting each dimension.
Feasibility analyses were used to keep certain dimensions at an assigned value. Independent parameters were specified, and ranges of appropriate values were assigned to the parameters when running feasibility studies. Additionally, a set of constraints that are dependent on the parameters are assigned a value. The testing is then run, and the model is regenerated accordingly. A recursive technique was utilized to create relationships for certain parameters. Once the model was setup to scale correctly for a range of vehicle diameters, sensitivity analyses were performed to look at the output values for different sized Earth Entry Vehicles.
Kimberly Halom, originally from Arlington, TX, is now in her senior year at Washington University in St. Louis. She is majoring in mechanical engineering with a minor in aerospace engineering. This upcoming July she will start working full-time at John Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory in the Air and Missile Defense Engineering Group. |
