Large Scale Computations for Stability Analysis of Launch Vehicles using Cluster Computers

A procedure is developed to generate a large aerodynamic database suitable for the static stability analysis of launch vehicles in the transonic regime by using the Navier–Stokes equations. Effects of structural deformations are also included using modal representation. It is shown that a large number of cases suitable for design can be computed within practical time limitations by using efficient protocols suitable for massively parallel computations on superclusters. Results are validated with wind-tunnel measurements that show good comparisons within the limits of themodel size.Massive computations on superclusters reveal important observations, such as highermodes having pronounced effects near transonic regime.