Response of Missile Erector Towers to Sudden Stops or Impact Loads

Extract

The Cantilever-Type mechanism often used in large missile erectors is subjected to heavy stresses when raising a missile from the horizontal to the vertical position for launching. In the event it becomes necessary to return the missile to the horizontal position, severe stresses in the erector, and possibly the missile itself may be developed if the lowering mechanism causes the erector to stop suddenly just before it reaches the horizontal position. This note presents a simple matric formulation of the problem which enables one who has access to an electronic digital computer to compute maximum deflections and load factors that occur as a result of a sudden stop.