Optimization of structural design of payload fairing used for space launch vehicles

Space Launch Vehicle is a system to transport and place the payload such as satellites, experimental tools, and observation robots into desired orbit. Payload is transported in Payload Fairing which protects payload from environmental effects exposed during flight. Payload capacity is the major criteria in design of Space Launch Vehicles. One option to increase payload capacity of Space Launch Vehicles is to minimize Payload Fairing weight while protecting the volume allocated for payload. In this thesis, an Optimization System is developed to minimize Payload Fairing weight while maintaining the Payload Fairing structural design strong enough to protect payload from effects such as aerodynamic and inertial loads that emerged from flight conditions. Tabu Search is integrated to the Optimization System to perform optimization. All neighbor configurations of the present Payload Fairing configuration are evaluated with Tabu Search integrated into the Optimization System. Design variables are changed after evaluating the Payload Fairing configurations' structural strength under flight conditions. Structuralanalysis program is integrated to the Optimization System to evaluate the structural strength. It is found that an optimized and structurally appropriate Payload Fairing configuration can be selected with Tabu Search integrated Optimization System.Tabu Search integrated Optimization system decreased the Payload Fairing weight by 75,5%. MATLAB Genetic Algorithm Toolbox is integrated to the Optimization system in place of Tabu Search to evaluate and verify Tabu Search integrated Optimization System. The problem is solved with Genetic Alogorthm integrated Optimization System and the solutions of both method is compared by considering decision variables' and objective function values. Objective function value of Tabu Search is in 1% margin of the objective function value of Genetic Algorithm. In the scope of thesis, Optimization System is developed and Tabu Search is integrated for Space Launch Vehicle Payload Fairing weight minimization. This system is verifiedby comparing the performance of the system with the proved genetic algorithm performance.