Simulation and Animation of Mechanical Systems

This paper introduces a process for simulating and animating mechanical components in
the context of a larger system. Using the NASA HL-20 flight vehicle’s main landing gear as
an example, the paper shows how the CAD assembly can be used as a starting point for
creating a dynamic model as well as a realistic animation of the mechanical components. The
paper also describes how a dynamic model created from the CAD assembly can be
integrated into the larger model of the overall flight vehicle and how the animation created
from the CAD assembly can be incorporated into a larger flight vehicle animation. The
resulting model and animation are used for detailed analysis and visualization of a main
landing gear collapse due to a sudden wind gust shortly before landing.