Multi-body Dynamics And Design Optimization For A Towed Gun

This paper focuses on dynamics modeling of multi-body system with its application in towed gun launch simulation and design optimization. The main contents are included as follows: The first, theoretical model of dynamics of multi-body system and numerical method for differential equation of motion are discussed. The principles of differential equations of motion are discussed and Runge-Kutta method is given to illustrate the application of numerical method. The second, fundamental structure of towed gun and their quantitatively relative motion is expressed. The third, forces acting on towed gun system are studied, including breech force, resistance of recoil mechanism and force of equilibrator. The fourth, the dynamics model of towed gun multi-body is constructed in ADAMS. The required data and modal neutral file for flexible body are generated by I-DEAS. The simulation based on ADAMS is the critical technique of dynamics analysis development which includes identification system configuration, determination of coordinate frames, derivation of kinematic formulas, application of load, generation and solution of the equation of motion and so on. After modeling and simulation, the predicted results are analyzed in detail, especially for firing stability and muzzle motion. The fifth, structural parameter sensitive design variables are selected for optimization. The dynamics optimization is conducted to minimize muzzle motion, including vertical velocity, elevation angle and angular velocity of muzzle at exit.