Structure

Question 1

Missile Structure

Answer 1

Provide form, shape, protection from forces and elements, lift, and stability.

Question 2

Answer 2

Question 3

Nose Cone

Answer 3

Houses the seeker - ginballed seeker tends to require rounded nose cones.

Aerodynamic flow - faster = more pointy

Shape determined by these factors.

Material must allow seeker energy transmission.

Question 4

Frame

Answer 4

Structural rigidity during static and dynamic loading.

Must allow it to be loaded.

Question 5

Warhead Casing

Answer 5

Provides structure and may help to define the purpose of the warhead.

Question 6

Motor Casing

Answer 6

Must be able to withstand extreme temperatures and pressures.

Cracks could result in the missile exploding premateurly.

Question 7

Skin

Answer 7

Must be strong enough to withstand air pressures and must have low coefficient of friction.

Question 8

Long term storage

Answer 8

Static loading may cause deformation of the airframe

Question 9

Sectionalization / Black Box Design

Answer 9

Separating the missile into functionally and physially separate sections.

Design teams do not need to know how the entire missile works, only their section. This is called black box design.

This also allows easy replacement and upgrading of individual sections.