Multi-objective design optimization of a Turret’s U-bracket mounted on moving platform

Abstract

This paper aims to model and design a lightweight U-bracket for two degrees of freedom (DOF) mechanism used to carry a machine gun. The mechanism is called a weapon station or a gun turret and can be mounted on any mobile platform. Due to the movement of the platform and the gun recoil force, the gun turret is subjected to high disturbances. So, to get better performances in terms of distributed efforts, stability and precision, the mechanism has to be optimally designed. The trunnion axis offset corresponding to higher dynamic and structural performance was determined based on probabilistic analysis and finite element simulations. Then, the co-simulation between MATLAB and ANSYS Parametric Design Language (APDL) was performed to get the optimal shape of the U-bracket by minimizing its mass, and maximizing its first natural frequency subjected to maximum stress constraint. To solve this constrained optimization problem, the Multi-Objective Genetic Algorithm (MOGA) technique was used. Through numerical simulations, the proposed approach shows the ability to provide a generic methodology to design the U-bracket of a 2-DOF weapon station efficiently.

Design and research of the ground robotic system structure for weapons remote control

“…The proposed structure design method, in contrast to those described in works [12][13][14][15][16], ensures the determination of the impact on the structure of the complex shape of the loads caused by its manipulation, to compensate for the exciting loads when GRS is moved over the terrain.…”

“…-the load caused by manipulations with the system; -loads transmitted from the gun during firing. These three main sources of loads mainly affect the design of GRS and are the object of research in [12][13][14][15][16].…”

“…In works [12][13][14][15], the effect of dynamic loads on the structure of the turret from firing without taking into account other loads is investigated. A systematic approach taking into account three types of loads is described in [16].…”

“…Work [16] is aimed at modeling and optimizing the design of a light U-shaped bracket for a gun turret. The authors conducted optimization studies with varying loads (road excitations and recoil force during firing) and determined the optimal design of the U-shaped bracket using probabilistic analysis and finite element modeling.…”

“…But the method of analytical calculation of the system of equations described in [16] is difficult to apply for structures of complex geometric shape. Also, the acceleration values given in [16] when the robot moves over the terrain cannot be used for other GRS designs.…”