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J. Simmons, 10/30/2014 09:04 pm


back Technology Evaluation

Aerodynamics Card Storming

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)

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