Stability Analysis — Lesson 5

Once a model has been solved, it should always go through validation checks or studies to understand the performance characteristics of a design. One such performance parameter that is paramount to a rocket design is stability in flight. As a rocket flies, the pressure forces acting on the rocket can be summed into a single vector. The point through which the vector acts is known as the center of pressure. The stability of a rocket’s design can be assessed by using the center of pressure and its relation to the center of gravity. This lesson will teach students how to perform a center of pressure validation study using Ansys SpaceClaim and Ansys Fluent.

This lesson will explore rocket stability. Students will learn how to perform validation studies by using the center of gravity and center of pressure to determine if a rocket’s design will be stable in flight. Students will learn how to set up a simulation to locate the center of pressure, as well as how to extract the rocket’s center of gravity from SpaceClaim. These locations will then be plotted and compared in Fluent using post-processing techniques, and design suggestions will be made to improve the design.

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