Damping Force Analysis and Optimization of a Lunar Lander with MRF

Abstract

Controllable lunar landers with magnetorheological fluid (MRF) damper have become a hot topic of research. However, limited research studies have been performed on the damping force analysis of MRF under high-velocity impacts. In this paper, the MRF hydrodynamics of new landing gear is analyzed under both steady and transient states by both theoretical analysis and simulations. To investigate the landing gear, its coupled Eulerian-Lagrangian (CEL) simulation model was constructed and analyzed in Abaqus. The study compares the simulated damping forces with those of theories. Under low uniform velocities, the simulated damping forces are in good agreement with those of the theories. Under high-velocity impacts, the simulated damping forces are more complex. To get lighter landing gear with better landing performance, an optimized lander was designed using the response surface methodology (RSM). In the optimized model, the mass of the optimized primary strut was reduced by 16.07% with a reduction in the fluctuations of the damping forces. It will be easier to control the landing under smoother damping forces, which is necessary for a successful landing.