• International Journal of Aeronautical and Space Sciences
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.537-547
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• 2015

A Monte Carlo (MC) simulation was conducted to predict the reliability of a newly developed pyrotechnic pin puller. The reliability model is based on the stress-strength interference model that states that failure occurs if the stress exceeds the strength. In this study, the stress is considered to be the energy consumed by movement of a pin shaft, and the strength is considered to be the energy generated by pyrotechnic combustion for driving the pin shaft. Failure of the pin puller can thus be defined as the consumed energy being greater than the generated energy. These energies were calculated using a performance model formulated in the previous study of the present authors. The MC method was used to synthesize the probability densities of the two energies and evaluate the reliability of the pin puller. From a probabilistic perspective, the calculated reliability was compared to a deterministic safety factor. A sensitivity analysis was also conducted to determine which design parameters most affect the reliability.

• International Journal of Aeronautical and Space Sciences
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.102-111
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• 2014

An analytical model was developed to understand the physics and predict the functional performance of a pin puller. The formulated model is based on one-dimensional gas dynamics for an ideal gas. Resistive forces against pin shaft movement were measured in quasi-static mechanical tests, the results of which were incorporated into the model. The expansion chamber pressure and the pin shaft displacement were measured from an actual firing test and compared to the model prediction. The gas generation rate was adjusted by a correction factor, and the heat transfer rate was obtained through parametric analysis. The validity of the model is assessed for additional firing tests with different amounts of pyrotechnic charge. This model can provide knowledge on how the pin puller functions, and on which design parameters contribute the most to the actuation of the pin puller. Using this model, we estimate the functional safety factor by comparing the energy generated by the pyrotechnic charge to the energy required to accomplish the function.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Aeronautical & Space Sciences
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• v.41 no.8
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• pp.625-631
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• 2013

Reliability of a pin puller was predicted by Monte Carlo simulation. The prediction method is based on the stress-strength interference model that failure occurs if the stress exceeds the strength. In this study, the strength is considered as the energy delivered by combustion of pyrotechnics to retreat the pin to a predetermined position, whereas the stress is regarded as the energy required to resist the pin movement. The former mainly depends on the amount of pyrotechnic charge and the latter is governed by several friction forces and the energy dissipation within locking mechanism. Both the variables of stress and strength were computed using an analytical performance model. The method presented here, not depending upon a large number of test item, can be applicable to predict the reliability of other kinds of pyrotechnic devices.

• Journal of Aerospace System Engineering
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• v.15 no.5
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• pp.81-88
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• 2021

In general, a non-explosive nylon wire cutting-based holding and release mechanism has been used to store and deploy deployable solar panels of CubeSat. However, with this method, accessing the solar panel's access port for charging the cube satellite's battery and electrical inspection and testing of the PCB and payloads while the solar panel is in storage is difficult. Additionally, the mechanism must have a reliable release function in an in-orbit environment, and reusability for stow and deploy of the solar panel, which is a hassle for the operator and difficult to maintain a consistent nylon wire fastening process. In this study, we proposed a pin-puller-based solar panel holding and release mechanism that can easily deploy a solar panel without cutting nylon wires by separating constraining pins. The proposed mechanism's release function and performance were verified through a solar panel deployment test and a maximum separation load measurement test. Through this, we also verified the design feasibility and effectiveness of the pin-puller-based separation device.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Military Science and Technology
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.225-230
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• 2017

To generate mechanical movements in one-shot devices such as missiles and space launch vehicles, pyrotechnic mechanical device(PMD) such as pin pullers using pyrotechnic charge has been widely used. Reliability prediction of pin pullers is crucial to successfully execute target missions for the one-shot devices. Because the pin pullers require destructive tests to evaluate their reliability, one would need about 3,000 samples of success to guarantee a reliability of 99.9 % with a confidence level of 95 %. This paper suggests the application of a probit model using the charge amount as a functional parameter for estimation of functional reliability of pin puller. To guarantee target reliability, we propose estimation methods of the lower bound of functional reliability by applying the probit model. Given lower bound of functional reliability, we quantitatively show that the optimum amount of charge increases as the number of samples decreases. Along with a variety of simulations the validity of our new model via real test results is confirmed.