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

Finite element analysis is presented for evaluating the elastic displacemen t response of a payload fairing structure for different cylinder heights su bjected to separation force. Three-noded plate and 3D beam elements are use d for the analysis. Mode superposition technique is used for the response s tudy. 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 d isplacement response on the radial gap between the separated fairing and th e payload dynamic envelope is also presented. Copyright (C) 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.