An investigation of the effect of spring forces on the separation of rocket motor and payload

The purpose of this thesis is to present the methodology and equations used to perform a payload-separation analysis, as well as to provide analysis results of a specific missile system using three different models for the spring or separation force. Specifically, the models considered in this thesis are (1) spring force as a function of frequency, which was recently suggested in literature; (2) the spring force modeled as a function of distance and the springs are fixed on the separating bodies; and (3) the spring force modeled as a function of distance, but the springs are allowed to move along the plane of separation on the ongoing body. The results of the analyses were compared and it was determined that modeling the system with the springs as a function of frequency is not physically realistic. Of the two models with the spring forces being a function of distance, the model with the springs attached to both bodies is found to be conservative with respect to the separation parameters of the bodies.