Tool Design: Large Assembly Approval

Gordon & Gordon Engineering performed design approval of massive floor-mounted assembly tooling for rocket components of a commercial reusable single-configuration heavy-lift launch vehicle manufactured and integrated at a complex near the Kennedy Space Center.

Task involved the engineering oversight (from PDR through CDR and FDR) and involvement for Models & Tools, a prime tool design contractor and their three analysis subcontractors in Michigan to support the requisite professional engineering approval of technically-acceptable stress analysis reports and drawings for the tool designs as the Florida Engineer of Record.
The review included material selection consultation, assembly consultation, and verification of load cases, boundary conditions of finite element models using SolidWorks Simulation 2018 as well as classic hand analyses to ensure that the design met safety and contractual requirements. There were numerous coordination telecons with the tool designers and direct communication to address and resolve concerns raised by their customer.