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Size: 2646
Comment:
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Size: 2655
Comment:
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| Deletions are marked like this. | Additions are marked like this. |
| Line 8: | Line 8: |
| Parameters used: | ==== Parameters used ==== |
Track Tension
The 2017 upgraded transformer-track launch loop will distribute the vehicle acceleration force between the rotor and the track, proportionally to the velocity of the vehicle. The following analysis assumes launch at the maximum cadence, and ignores longitudinal resonances in the track (which may be detrimental or beneficial, hopefully the latter with clever design).
A transformer track can be very efficient because slip will be a tiny fraction of the huge motor speed, perhaps 99% or better. For this analysis, we will assume 100% to simplify the math.
Parameters used
6000 kilograms |
Vehicle mass including the launch sled |
45 seconds |
launch cadence |
30 m/s² |
launch acceleration |
472 m/s |
Earth rotation velocity |
Likely destination apogees and loop relative launch velocities
Destination |
Apogee |
Vperigee |
Vlaunch |
|
|
m/s |
m/s |
422 km LEO |
6800 km |
7938.74 |
7466.36 |
Server Sky |
12790 km |
9038.17 |
8565.78 |
GEO |
42164 km |
10328.29 |
9855.91 |
Moon |
384600 km |
11001.06 |
10528.68 |
Escape |
Infinity |
11093.37 |
10620.98 |
Track Tension Versus Vehicle Number
Vehicle |
Velocity |
Trackforce |
downrange |
Summed |
Tension |
||
Number |
m/s |
Newtons |
km |
Newtons |
kg/m |
With strain relief |
|
0 |
0 |
180000.00 |
0.00 |
180000 |
0.26 |
||
1 |
1350 |
162642.86 |
30.38 |
342643 |
0.50 |
Summed |
Tension |
2 |
2700 |
145285.71 |
121.50 |
487929 |
0.71 |
Newtons |
kg/m |
3 |
4050 |
127928.57 |
273.38 |
615857 |
0.90 |
127929 |
0.19 |
4 |
5400 |
110571.43 |
486.00 |
726429 |
1.06 |
238500 |
0.35 |
5 |
6750 |
93214.29 |
759.38 |
819643 |
1.19 |
331714 |
0.48 |
6 |
8100 |
75857.14 |
1093.50 |
895500 |
1.31 |
407571 |
0.59 |
7 |
9450 |
58500.00 |
1488.38 |
954000 |
1.39 |
466071 |
0.68 |
8 |
10800 |
41142.86 |
1944.00 |
995143 |
1.45 |
507214 |
0.74 |
The track tension could be inconveniently large, but the first 200 km is climbing from the station at 70 km to the main launch path at 100 km, and there will be strain relief cables to the surface to relieve incline forces anyway; they can relieve the track launch tension of the first three payloads as well.