Mach 30 Technical Roadmap

back [[Technology Evaluation]]

h1. Aerodynamics Card Storming

h2. Unsorted list of ideas

* Wind Tunnel Projects (a'la the Shepard Test Stand)

* survey all of the rocket aerodynamics software and rank by utility, ease-of-use, and openness

* port J's masters thesis on fin flutter analysis/optimization to open source tools

* parametric #CodeCAD models of fins (suitable for 3D printing, milling, and drafting)

* Practice/document manufacturing processes for aero structures, hotwire for foam, cutting balsa for fins, 3D printing, etc

* Build a computing cluster

* Make the computing cluster opt-in (from donated hardware/time)

* Study/research impact of surface finish on aerodynamic surfaces

* Research/study aerodynamic “fixes” (like trip lines, vortex generators, etc)

* Visualization tools/processes for aerodynamic phenomenon/flows (smoke, pressure sensitive paint, streamers, Schlieren)

* Scaled composites style wind tunnel by “car/truck”

* How fast of a wind tunnel is reasonable to build?

* Design processes for wind tunnels by target regime

* How to’s for wind tunnel analysis (things like dealing with Reynold’s number etc to properly scale test articles)

* Using other “tricks/hacks” to do wind tunnel style tests (UAVs, mounting to model rockets, etc) <- expands the car idea above

* Software tools for aero stability (not controls or guidance)

* Laboratory measurement software and equipment, especially distributed viewers of a test to remote locations

* Research/study impact and limits on externally mounted features (like antennas, etc) on aerodynamic performance (flow perturbation analysis)

> * see NACA Aerodynamic DB (subsonic), see NASA for supersonic

> * can document how to use sources like that including doing a flight test with a model rocket

* Hydro tunnel projects

* Cheat sheet/booklet/software for aerodynamic calculations (Cd/Cl build up to go from design to rough estimate of total Cd/Cl)

* Add ability to include environmental impact (rain, fog, etc) to wind tunnel to test performance under all weather conditions

* Aerodynamic analysis/design of a stable recovery system for payload module in case of vehicle failure (no thrusters or parachutes, like a seed pod)

* Investigate using OpenVSP for model/high power rocket design/layout

* Extend analysis of aero stability and aero characteristics software and calcs to include subsonic, transonic, and supersonic regimes

* Investigation of aerodynamic mechanisms (glider wings, canard fins, etc)

* Simulate/study aero-structural analysis (include aeroelasticity, etc)