An Evaluation of Two Alternate Propulsion Concepts for Bantam-Argus: Deeply-Cooled Turbojet+Rocket and Pulsed Detonation Rocket+Ramjet
The Bantam-Argus reusable launch vehicle concept is a smaller version of the original Argus single-stage-to-orbit launch vehicle design. Like the original Argus, Bantam-Argus uses a Maglifter launch assist system to provide an initial horizontal launch velocity. Bantam-Argus is designed to deliver 300 lb. payloads to low earth orbit and, like the full sized Argus, the baseline Bantam-Argus concept utilizes two liquid oxygen/liquid hydrogen supercharged ejector ramjets as prime motive power. This paper presents the results of an investigation of two alternate propulsion systems for the BantamArgus launch vehicle. First, a thermally integrated combined-cycle system consisting of two deeplycooled turbojets and two liquid rocket engines was evaluated. Second, a combination propulsion system utilizing two pulsed detonation rocket engines and two standalone ramjets was evaluated. The results show that both alternate propulsion systems have the potential to reduce both the dry weight and gross weight of the baseline Bantam-Argus concept (when resizing the vehicle while holding mission payload constant). The pulsed detonation rocket engine option is particularly attractive. However, these results must be treated with caution given the relative immaturity of the supporting propulsion data available for both alternatives. Trade studies on key performance parameters were p rformed to bound the potential gains to be expected from either alternative.
Argus, a Highly Reusable SSTO Rocket-Based Combined Cycle Launch Vehicle with Maglifter Launch Assist
AIAA 8th International Space Planes and Hypersonic Systems and Technologies Conference 
Norfolk, VA, April 1998.
Mechanics of deformable directed surfaces
Abstract The paper develops a simple, yet complete and consistent non-linear dynamic thermo-elastic shell theory based on the concepts of a two-dimensional directed continuum. The constitutive equations are postulated in a general form. Stress-strain relations are derived using the equation of energy balance and the two entropy production inequalities, which are rewritten in a special form. The linear theory is discussed in detail. The structure of the stress-strain relations is presented in the most general form and then specialized to concrete examples, in particular, to the classical shell theory, using their invariance properties with respective to certain symmetry groups. The elastic moduli are determined by demanding the coincidence of the frequency dispersion surfaces obtained using the two-dimensional theory with the lowest foils of the corresponding surfaces resulting from the three-dimensional theory of elasticity.