Sealing Design and SW Simulations Aspects for Windows in Manned Space Modules

The thesis is divided into two parts. The first part begins with a historical introduction focused on aerospace windows, followed by a mathematical introduction to the functionality of ANSYS® software, followed by the static verification of a window subjected to a pressure of 1.5 bar. For this verification, the crowns of the seals, which were initially interpenetrated with both the acrylic and the frame, were pre-compressed to bring them into proper contact with these components, eliminating the interpenetration, and then the static analysis was completed. After obtaining positive results, a pre-stressed modal analysis was conducted, using the stress values from the pre-compression without pressure, to identify the resonance mode of the ‘Acrylic’. Finally, a linear harmonic response analysis was performed. The second part of the thesis focuses on comparing the results of the linear harmonic response analysis with those of a nonlinear transient analysis and experimental data. The motivation for this comparison arose from the discrepancy between the resonance frequencies obtained with the linear analysis (approximately 70 Hz lower than those from laboratory tests). During the development of the transient model, convergence issues were encountered, particularly the hourglass effect. To address this, an equivalent gasket model was adopted, with its material curve derived from laboratory results. The gasket model performed well, showing no numerical issues, and was therefore used as the basis for the transient analyses. Upon completion of all analyses, the results were discussed, and conclusions were drawn.