Effect of cylinder height of a typical payload fairing on the displacement response due to separation force

Finite element analysis is presented for evaluating the elastic displacement response of a payload fairing structure for different cylinder heights subjected to separation force. Three-noded plate and 3D beam elements are used for the analysis. Mode superposition technique is used for the response study. Half-model of one-half of the fairing structure is used for the study and symmetric boundary conditions are applied. The effect of the elastic displacement response on the radial gap between the separated fairing and the payload dynamic envelope is also presented. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.