Rendering of lander legs

A design for lander legs is shown. Analysis resulted in an understanding of critical landing conditions and a sensibility of the initial dimensions of the crush pad. These include axial stresses and buckling deformations of the three leg struts under landing scenarios including 1, 2, 3, or 4 leg impacts at various velocities and stress on the lander structure where the legs mount.

Consideration for worst case landing scenarios is critical to avoid a primary structure failure resulting in an inability to launch the rover. This leg configuration sustains an impact velocity of 5 meters per second with impact on a single leg. All parts shown in the leg assembly are aluminum.

Future work will include simplification of leg configuration as a welded rigid assembly.

Graph of stress analysis on support rod B. Click to view full size.

Graph of stress analysis on support rods A and C. Click to view full size.