Practical Methodology for the Inclusion of Nonlinear Slosh Damping in the Stability Analysis of Liquid-Propelled Space Vehicles

Abstract: One of the challenges of developing flight control systems for liquid-propelled space vehicles is ensuring stability and performance in the presence of parasitic minimally damped slosh dynamics in the liquid propellants. This can be especially difficult when the fundamental frequencies of the slosh motions are in proximity to the frequency used for vehicle control. The challenge is partially alleviated since the energy dissipation and effective damping in the slosh modes increases with amplit…