Optimum design of launch vehicle adapters for small satellites

Small satellites are often subjected to severe vibrational load and acoustic impulse by launchers. However, large structural modifications or equipment of control system are not usually used because of sizes of structures, constraints of weight and costs. As simple and effective ways, adding stiffeners and damping materials are sometime used. Alternative way is to isolate small satellite directly from vibrational loads transmitted from the main rocket body. In other words, such launch vehicle adapters (LVA) should be so desired that may transmit the vibrational load little to the satellites. The number of launches of small satellites will be expected to increase lately where some kinds of small satellites may be installed at a time by using one platform. Therefore, LVAs are desired to design optimally that have less sensitivity of the response to the vibration input, the number and the specifications of different small satellites. So in this study before considering topology and shape optimization design of LVAs, attention is paid to the position of small satellite on the LVA tables, layout of small satellites which can be used robustly for a variety of small satellites.