What are all the design criteria considered when designing a payload fairing (some are payload volume, drag) ?
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$\begingroup$ The question is a bit broad and asks multiple things at once. Maybe the ejection techniques might be put on a separate question? $\endgroup$– BlueCoderCommented Sep 13, 2018 at 7:57
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$\begingroup$ Ok @BlueCoder, I will edit the question right now. $\endgroup$– AmarCommented Sep 13, 2018 at 9:09
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1$\begingroup$ I'd say starting with market analysis: what sort of payloads is there a market for. Then design the shell that fits that payload size, then apply aerodynamics, structural and technical requirements modifications. $\endgroup$– SF.Commented Sep 13, 2018 at 11:01
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1 Answer
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Some factors, not in order and probably incomplete:
- size and volume: payloads need to fit inside. For large launchers, a payload diameter of about 4.5 m is more or less standard, lengths are also standardized. For smaller launchers there is more variation.
- aerodynamics: the fairing has to be stable from launch to an altitude of 100 km, while the rocket accelerates. Air drag gives a certain load on the fairing that varies with speed and altitude.
- acoustics: the fairing needs to protect the payload from the noise at takeoff and ascent. Those are known, so you know how much noise level reduction you need, there are various ways to achieve that (foam panels, Helmholz resonators). These take up weight and volume.
- acceleration: the launcher accelerates at a certain rate, this gives a structural load on the fairing it has to withstand.
- rocket assembly: if the rocket is assembled horizontally, the fairing needs to withstand the sideways loading that occurs. For some rockets, the fairing is a structural component (it carries the payload during assembly), so that's another structural demand.
- the goal is a fairing that has minimal weight and is easy to build while still protecting the payload.
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+1I certainly would not vote to close as "a list question and therefore not a good fit for Stackexchange" even though this helpful answer appears to be a list! ;-) $\endgroup$– uhohCommented Sep 14, 2018 at 6:42