Development of a user-friendly graphical interface linking existing engineering computer programs for optimization of future hypersonic vehicle concepts is the goal of this project. Phase I will develop this interface for SRGULL, a suite of engineering codes developed by NASA for prediction of the integrated performance of national aerospace plan (NASP) configurations. SRGULL is an interactive engineering tool capable of nose-to-tail modeling of NASP components for rapid generation of initial estimates of vehicle engine performance. The emphasis in Phase I will be the development of CAD-like software to provide a higher and more sophisticated degree of automation of the SRGULL code. A significant strength of the present approach is the modular nature of the interface which allows upgrades to more advanced grid generation techniques, including unstructured grids, grid quality measures, and solution adaptive procedures. Phase II will result in a super workstation-based aerodynamic and engine performance simulator with powerful engineering computer programs linked together by customized pre- and post-processors. The menu-driven interface will be versatile enough to allow user customization, modification, or replacement of existing engineering models. Progressively higher fidelity analyses could be performed in an engineering design environment on secure, inexpensive machines quickly and efficiently, thus saving valuable engineering resources and speeding the design process. The time required to become proficient in the use of these engineering design tools would also be greatly reduced.
Potential Commercial Applications: Graphical user interfaces will ultimately become the standard as the level of computational sophistication and user flexibility increases. The interface will thus make computational fluid dynamics design tools, in general, much more accessible and attractive to many industries which would otherwise not foster such expertise. The automotive, chemical, electronics, environmental, marine, and power industries all offer high potential for commercial applications.
