Aerodynamic analysis determines the forces and moments acting on the rocket as it moves through the atmosphere.

The team studies:

• Vehicle drag

• Static stability

• Center of pressure

• Aerodynamic forces and moments

• Pressure distributions

• Fin performance

• Airbrake deployment

• Canard effectiveness

• Interactions between aerodynamic surfaces

• Performance across varying velocity and Mach number

Airbrakes, canards, and fixed fins cannot always be treated as independent components. Deploying one surface changes the surrounding flow field and can influence the performance of another.

Simulations therefore evaluates not only individual components, but increasingly the complete aerodynamic configuration of the vehicle.

Trajectory analysis predicts the vehicle's motion from rail departure through powered ascent, coast, apogee, and recovery.

The team evaluates quantities including:

1. Altitude: How closely is the vehicle predicted to approach the competition target?

2. Velocity: How fast will the vehicle travel throughout ascent?

3. Acceleration: What loads will propulsion and aerodynamic forces place on the vehicle?

4. Mach Number: What aerodynamic regime will the rocket encounter?

5. Rail Departure Velocity: Will the vehicle leave the launch rail with sufficient speed for stable flight?

6. Stability: How do center of gravity, center of pressure, mass distribution, and vehicle geometry evolve?

7. Atmospheric Effects: How do wind, air density, temperature, and other launch-day conditions influence the trajectory?

Trajectory predictions are not simply competition numbers. They become inputs for Structures, Embedded Systems, Propulsion, Recovery, and flight operations.

Controlling the Vehicle Through the Atmosphere

One of the most technically demanding areas of the Simulations program is the development of models for active aerodynamic systems.

Magnolia demonstrated the team's ability to move beyond a purely ballistic launch vehicle by incorporating student-developed airbrakes. The system changed vehicle drag during coast to help regulate the rocket's maximum altitude toward the 10,000-foot competition target.

Airbrakes

Airbrakes regulate vehicle altitude by increasing aerodynamic drag during ascent.

Simulations evaluates how different deployment positions affect:

• Drag coefficient

• Deceleration

• Coast time

• Predicted apogee

• Stability

• Flow interaction with downstream surfaces

Canards

Canards introduce an additional control problem focused on rotational motion.

The system uses small aerodynamic surfaces to generate corrective moments and reduce unwanted vehicle roll.

Simulations helps determine:

• Required canard area

• Available control authority

• Appropriate deflection angles

• Aerodynamic forces and moments

• Response at different flight velocities

• Interaction with the fixed fins

• Added drag

• Effects on overall stability

A canard that provides sufficient control at one velocity may behave very differently at another.

A CFD contour can look convincing even when the underlying simulation is poor.

For that reason, Simulations members learn to evaluate the quality of their models rather than just accepting thsolver output.

That process can include:

Geometry Preparation
Simplifying the vehicle appropriately without removing important aerodynamic features.

Computational Domain Development
Providing sufficient space around the vehicle to represent external flow.

Meshing
Refining the mesh where flow gradients, boundary layers, control surfaces, or separation are important.

Boundary Conditions
Ensuring velocity, pressure, temperature, and operating conditions match the flight case being studied.

Solver Selection
Choosing appropriate physical models for turbulence, compressibility, and other flow behavior.

Convergence
Determining whether the numerical solution has stabilized.

Mesh Independence
Ensuring the predicted result is not simply a consequence of mesh resolution.

Validation
Comparing computational predictions against physical measurements whenever possible.

Previous rocketry, CFD, or ANSYS experience before joining is not required.

The team is particularly well suited for students interested in:

• Aerospace, Mechanical Engineering, Computer Systems Engineering, Computer Ccience, and Physics

• Fluid mechanics, Aerodynamics, Programming, Data science, Flight dynamics, Controls, Numerical methods, Applied mathematics

A new member does not begin by being handed a complex transonic CFD model.

Students can progress through increasingly advanced analysis as their experience develops.

A possible progression might look like:

01 // OpenRocket
Learn vehicle geometry, stability, and basic trajectory analysis.

02 // Flight Data
Compare simulation predictions with previous vehicle telemetry.

03 // OpenVSP
Begin studying aerodynamic geometry and parameter changes.

04 // CFD
Learn meshing, boundary conditions, convergence, and aerodynamic analysis.

05 // Vehicle Dynamics
Connect aerodynamic results with complete flight models.

06 // Controls & Uncertainty
Develop active-system models, Monte Carlo simulations, and optimization studies.