Improved Viscous Brake Design Using Simulation

Abstract

The SDIO High Altitude Balloon Experiment ( HABE) required a rapid controlled descent of a large, heavy payload from a balloon platform. An existing viscous brake concept was chosen for the job, but the short time and space available coupled to the heavy payload resulted in very high power densities. Existing rules of thumb for viscous brakes were insufficient ,or the design. Viscous brake phenomenology and the particular physical constraints were coded into a modern continuous simulation applications package. After investigating both full dynamic and quasi-steady models, it was decided that the latter was adequate for all but the first and last small fraction of the descent. The model includes temperature dependent viscosity and a beat transfer model. The model been used extensively to investigate the design space and to develop test plans. Simulation, Viscous brake, Thermal mechanical model, Viscous brake design.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Dec 28, 1993
Accession Number
ADA275164

Entities

People

  • Alan B. Mironer
  • Geoffrey R. Kirpa
  • George Y. Jumper
  • Thomas B. Joslyn

Organizations

  • Phillips Laboratory

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Altitude
  • Angular Acceleration
  • Brake Fluids
  • Computer Simulations
  • Deployment
  • Engineering
  • Engineers
  • Equations
  • Equations Of Motion
  • Fluids
  • Heat Transfer
  • High Altitude
  • Relative Motion
  • Simulations
  • Steady State
  • Two Dimensional
  • Viscosity

Readers

  • Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD)
  • Fluid Dynamics.
  • Systems Analysis and Design

Technology Areas

  • Space
  • Space - Satellites