TABLE OF CONTENTS The purpose of computing is insight-not numbers.
- Hamming
In this chapter we discuss modeling and simulation (M&S) methods and tools used in designing the mechanical aspects of the launch vehicle's mission and hardware-specifically for the disciplines of fluid dynamics; guidance, navigation, and control (GN&C); propulsion; flight mechanics; and structures.
The chapter isn't highly technical in terms of deriving and solving equations, but we do show the classes of equations and solutions that arise in everyday activities for a launch vehicle's mission and hardware.
An important part of engineering is the program's organization and interactions. Every aerospace company has a slightly different organization and hence a different definition of its roles and responsibilities. You need to understand the interactions between technical organizations and the support groups that may provide data to support M&S.
Early models and simulations supported the aircraft industry. Testing was the main tool for verifying aerodynamics, control stability, and structural performance. Typically, models were simple enough for manual operation using mechanical calculators. The evolution that took place from the 1950s to the present has been astounding. Tools have evolved from "home grown" to many commercially available tools for individual disciplines. At the same time, computing has accelerated-from calculators, to mainframes, to personal computers and workstations. This combined growth of analytical tools and computing...
