Design and Test Canard Control For A Missle
Design and Test Canard Control For A Missle
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All content following this page was uploaded by Ali Yetgin on 19 April 2021.
Abstract: Canards are frequently used control surfaces to steer missiles in the air. They are
positioned at relatively forward sections of the body. Considering the mechanical and thermal
loadings during the flight of a missile, design of a canard is a challenging process. Guidance of
the missile to its target relies on these control surfaces. In case of a malfunction or damage on the
structure of it, missile cannot fulfill its mission. Therefore they are crucial components and on
critical design path. Canard system which consists of aerodynamic control surface and a rotating
base must withstand aerodynamic loadings and rotate within predefined angles to produce
steering action. Necessary rotation movement may be provided by mechanical or hydraulic
actuators. In this study, canard body and its connection to rotating base were modelled in
Abaqus/CAE. Detailed finite element model of bolted connection was created and thermo
mechanical strength analyses were performed. Different bolt configurations and loading varieties
were analyzed in order to ensure adequacy of the design. Safety of the system was calculated
against applied aerodynamic pressure and thermal loadings. Experimental study was conducted
in order to obtain ultimate loading of the system. Finally analyses were verified using various
measurements during tests such as strain and displacement. At the end of study a good correlation
was obtained between analysis and test results.
1. Introduction
Canards are control surfaces that are located at forward sections of the missile body. They have
been commonly used in tactical and ballistic missiles although canard control can poses negative
effects on roll motion of the missile (Dyer, 2004). A canard controlled missile is shown in Figure
1.
2. Experimental Set up
A test study was conducted in order to determine ultimate loads of the canard and bolted
connection. In order to simulate the connection of canard to its base, a test fixture was designed
and manufactured. This fixture also ensures correct position of point load that represents the
aerodynamic pressure loading. Canard is bolted to the fixture and positioned in a universal tensile
testing machine. Experimental set up is shown in Figure 4. Load is applied at a single point using
ram that is shown in the figure. The final purpose of this experimental work is to determine the
ultimate load carrying capacity of the canard and bolted connection.
RAM
FIXTURE
CANARD
BOLTS
SG1 SG2
CENTER OF
PRESSURE
Tests were conducted by positioning the fixture in tensile test machine and monotonically
increasing load until failure in canard or bolted connections occurs. A typical load vs. time curve
is given in Figure 6. Load is increased over time and at a certain point failure occurs at bolts. At
some point after load drops, there can be seen an increasing trend because of the canard tip
touching the fixture bottom. Picture of failed bolt can be seen in Figure 7. Failure occurred at
threaded section of the bolt.
FAILURE
INITIATION
Finite element model of canard and fixture is created using Abaqus/CAE. Three dimensional full
model of the system is meshed using C3D20R and C3D10R elements. Finite element model is
shown in Figure 8. Interactions were defined for all touching surfaces. Bolts that are used to
mount the canard are included as solid models and preloads are defined. Fixture is mounted to the
base with bolts that are modeled using beam elements. Beam bolts are tied to base parts using
coupling definitions also given as in Figure 8. The finite element model of the test setup was built
in order to validate modeling procedures using measurement data obtained during test. Also
ultimate load is determined for bolts and calibrated for model.
While modeling bolts, load carrying cross section is taken into account. Critical cross section
diameter is different from nominal size of the bolts. That difference between nominal and critical
cross section affects stresses on bolts and also stiffness of the connection. The correlation between
nominal diameter and mean, pitch diameters for a metric thread is given in Equation 1 and 2
respectively. Profile of a metric thread is sketched in Figure 9.
P dm dp d
Figure 9. Metric thread profile
�� = � − 1.226869 � Equation 1
�� = � − 0.649519 � Equation 2
4. Results
Finite element model of test setup is analyzed under increasing point load acting at the same
location as tensile test machine. The model consists of nearly 100000 elements and 150000 nodes.
Solution for a run takes 4 hours at 16 cpus server. Von mises stress plot obtained at failure load is
shown in Figure 10. It is seen that critical stress tend to build up at sections near bolted
connection. During the course of loading, upward face of the canard is loaded in tensile direction.
Therefore, bolts at the upper row are critically loaded. In the test those bolts failed.
Due to bending effect of loading upper part of the base surface of canard where it is bolted to
fixture loses its contact. Contact stress distribution on the base surface and up scaled deformation
of the canard and bolts is given in Figure 11. Non contacting zone of the surface is shown as grey
color. Separation of the surface at the upper part is clearly seen in the figure. As mentioned before,
upper side of canard is loaded in tensile direction and bolts that are at upper portion of base
surface are critically loaded.
5. Discussions
In this study, finite element results for a canard and bolted connection loaded aerodynamically is
presented. Also an experimental set up is explained and test study has been carried out. Finite
element model is verified using data measured during test. At two locations on the canard, strains
measured using strain gages during test. It is seen that measured strain values and finite element
results are in %5 error band.
For the finite element analysis of test case, ultimate load that causes failure at bolts is determined.
In Table 1 predicted load and test result is compared for different preload values. Preload is
increased by 16% and 33%. Elasto-plastic material data are used for bolt and canard. Ultimate
ram load values are determined within 21%. The main reason for deviation between test and
analysis is scatter in the stress strain curve of used materials. However, all predictions are in
conservative side and that makes the method used for this model is acceptable for design purposes.
Finite element model for canard system mounted on the missile body is created using
methodology explained here and analyzed under aerodynamic pressure and thermal loadings.
Design iterations are carried out until both maximum equivalent stress on canard stays under
allowable limit and the tip deflection is within system requirement limits. After design iterations,
geometry was frozen, and the system was tested successfully under real firing conditions.
Preload x 1,16 80 %
Preload x 1,33 79 %
6. References
1. Acar, B. and A. Yetgin, “Design and Analysis of a Foldable Wing Mechanism”, SIMULIA
Community Conference, 2013
2. Coskun, V., Ozkokdemir, E. and B. Acar, “Modelling of Heat Transfer across Bolted Joints in
Abaqus/CAE”, SIMULIA Community Conference, 2015
3. Dryer, W.R, “Modern Missile Control”, 2004.
4. Simsek, B., “Ablation Modeling Of Thermal Protection Systems Of Blunt-Nosed Bodies At
Supersonic Flight Speeds”, 2012
5. Abaqus Users Manual, Version 6.14-1, Dassault Systémes Simulia Corp., Providence, RI.