Abstract:
This paper outlines the use of computational analysis to guide the design and development of the Multi-Axial Pyrotechnic Plate (MAPP), a new test apparatus for inducing specific multi-dimensional shock responses. The finite element method is central to this effort, employing the explicit code LS-DYNA to simulate the dynamic behavior of the MAPP, which consists of an aluminum plate and a perpendicular "bookshelf" structure. The study performed a finite element analysis on three distinct configurations, varying the location of the bookshelf to understand its influence on the system's response to a simulated impulsive pressure load. These models were meshed with solid brick elements and utilized a Plastic-Kinematic material model to capture the structural behavior, while a separate modal analysis was performed using SolidWorks to identify the system's natural frequencies. Triaxial acceleration data was extracted from the finite element simulations at the shelf's center and processed into Shock Response Spectra (SRS) and autopower spectra, which were then compared to data from a physical pyroshock experiment to evaluate the predictive capability of the computational model. The finite element analysis revealed the critical insight that placing the bookshelf in the center of the plate dramatically reduced the out-of-plane forces by mitigating the effects of the plate's bending modes, demonstrating that the finite element method is a crucial tool for tuning the fixture's design to achieve a desired shock environment.
