Structural Dynamics of Liquid Rocket Engines

Andy Brown, Ph.D. is an Aerospace Engineer in the Propulsion Structure & Dynamic Analysis Branch/ER41 at NASA Marshall Space flight Center. He joined MSFC in 1986 and has worked mainly on rocket engine dynamics and loads research and production analysis, but also has performed hypersonic debris impact analysis. Presently he is leading structural dynamic analysis for the adaptation and re-start of the Space Shuttle Main Engine into the new RS25 engine, which will power the first stage of the Space Launch System. He has authored or co-authored 11 journal papers and over 28 conference papers covering topics ranging from probabilistic design and load combination methods to techniques for calculating turbine blade forced response in the presence of asymmetric flow. Dr. Brown has been an active member of the AIAA Structural Dynamics Technical Committee and taught graduate-level courses in Structural Dynamics and Finite Element methods while a visiting professor at UNC Charlotte. He has taught a professional cshort course "Basics of Structural Dynamics" a number of times and has been an adjunct professor at Duke University with the Thrust international master's degree program in turbomachinery. Andy received a BS in Mechanical Engineering from Duke University, a Ph.D. in ME from Georgia Tech, and an Associate Fellow of the AIAA.

Introduction & Motivation The Critical Role of Structural dynamics (SD) in the Design, Analysis, Testing, and Operation of Liquid Rocket Engines (LRE's).- Review of Structural Dynamics Theory Necessary for Analysis of LRE's.- Structural Dynamics of LRE Turbopumps.- Structural Dynamics of LRE Combustion Devices.- Rocket Engine System Loads.- System Hardware and Propellant Feedlines.- Structural Dynamics in Testing of Liquid Rocket Engines.- Related Disciplines and Advanced Topics.