Embedded Files
Open Rocket design and simulation:
OpenRocket is an open source model rocket simulation software application. It was originally developed by Sampo Niskanen in 2009 as part of his master thesis at what was then Helsinki University of Technology. If you want to have a look at his thesis you can download it from OpenRocket's technical documentation page. Written entirely in Java, OpenRocket is fully cross-platform. Have a look at the next section if you need information about how to open the program on your computer.
OpenRocket is intended to be used by rocketeers who want to test the performance of a model rocket before actually building and flying it. The software accurately computes the aerodynamic properties of rockets and simulates their flight, returning a wide range of technical results.
The program can be roughly divided into two sections:
- Rocket design, where you can design the model rocket you intend to build, choosing from a wide range of body components, trapezoidal, elliptical and free-form fins, inner components, and mass objects. During this phase you will see a 2D representation of the rocket you are building and various technical information (size, mass, apogee, max. velocity, max. acceleration, stability, centre of gravity (CG), centre of pressure (CP)) about your rocket, so you can have already a good idea of its performance even before running any simulation.
- Flight simulation, where you can run one or more simulations of your rocket's flight, choosing from one or more motor configurations. Each simulation (calculated using the Runge-Kutta 4 simulator) returns a wide range of data about the rocket's flight. Unfortunately, for the moment a graphical visualization of the rocket's flight is not available
Rocket Propulsion Analysis :
RPA is a multi-platform analysis tool for conceptual and preliminary design of chemical rocket engines capable of:
Engine performance analysis
Thrust chamber sizing
Nozzle wall contour optimization
Thrust chamber cooling analysis
Engine cycle power balance analysis
Engine mass estimation
Scripting utility for development of custom solutions
Page updated
Report abuse