Science Software
AERONAUTICS
COLLECTION
The Science
Software aeronautics collection is a suite of freeware computer programs in the areas of model rocketry, gliders
and hot air ballooning. To encourage use
of the metric system, all aeronautics programs require metric inputs and
provide results in units of the metric system.
Several
programs are available to help the model rocketeer
predict the altitude performance of single stage model rockets, and the glide
performance of boost and rocket gliders. All rocketry programs require the user
to input the launch site altitude and temperature. This information is used to compensate for
"non-standard" flying conditions such as hot or cold days and launch
sites which are not at sea level.
Each
altitude prediction program requires the model rocket engine performance and
the model rocket mass, diameter and drag coefficient. Both altitude programs
provide the following information to the user;
(1) burnout
altitude and velocity
(2) coast time
and total flight time
(3) maximum
altitude
Both
prediction programs will also work with clustered single stage rockets.
The glide
performance program requires the following inputs;
(1) initial
flight altitude
(2) wingspan and
wing area
(3) zero-lift drag coefficient and wing
efficiency factor
The
following information is provided to the user for both the maximum range and
maximum duration flight conditions;
(1) glide speed
and glide angle
(2) horizontal
range rate-of-descent
(3) lift-to-drag ratio
ATMOS is a utility program that determines properties of the
standard atmosphere. The user can specify an initial and final altitude and
altitude increment and this program determines the density, pressure and
temperature at each altitude.
ROCKET1 is a program that determines the
flight performance of a single stage model rocket using an analytical or
"exact" solution. This program solves the problem of model rocket
vertical motion by assuming "average" flight conditions.
ROCKET2 is a program that determines the
flight performance of a single stage model rocket by numerically integrating
the equations of motion. The user can
specify a launch angle and the program solves the problem of non-vertical
motion. The user can also display and
print the results at each integration step. The information displayed includes
the flight time, vertical altitude, horizontal range, velocity,
mass, thrust and aerodynamic drag. This
program models the variation of density with altitude and the changes in thrust
and mass with time. Aerodynamic drag is updated as a function of altitude and
velocity.
ROCKET3 is a program that determines the
"best" launch mass of a single stage model rocket which maximizes
total altitude. This program assumes
vertical motion and uses the analytic solution described above. It also
compensates for "non-standard" flying conditions.
GLIDER is a program that determines the
maximum range and maximum endurance flight conditions of boost and rocket
gliders. These are the conditions when
the glider will fly the farthest or stay in the air the longest time. This program is also applicable to
sailplanes, hang gliders and radio control gliders.
BALLOON is a program which can be used to
determine the performance capability of hot air balloons. The payload weight lifting capability, gas
temperature, balloon volume and the maximum altitude capability can be determined
accurately with this program. BALLOON
requires a combination of the following user inputs;
(1) launch site
altitude and temperature
(2) liftoff
weight
(3) balloon
volume
(4) gas
temperature
(5) flight
altitude
From any
combination of three items (2, 3, 4 or 5), program BALLOON provides the user
with the fourth item. This program also
computes the air temperature at the balloon's altitude. The launch site altitude and temperature are
required in order to compensate for "non-sea level" conditions such
as hot or cold days and flying locations which may not be at sea level.
To download
a zipped file of source code, executable programs and documentation click here.
Program ROCKET (A Computer Program
for Predicting and Optimizing Single Stage Rocket Performance)
Features:
(1)
Prediction
of optimum initial mass for maximum altitude
(2)
Prediction
of burnout and maximum altitude conditions
(3)
Numerical
integration of two-dimensional rocket flight
(4)
U.S.
Standard 1976 atmosphere
(5)
Linear
and cubic spline interpolation of rocket engine thrust-time data
(6)
Ability
to create comma-separated-variable (CSV) output files for analysis and plotting
To download
a zipped file of the executable program and example data files, click here.
To download
a copy of the documentation in PDF format, click here.
Thanks
for visiting.
Technical Notes of
Interest (PDF format)
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