Application of Airdrop Systems Modeling Software

A modular framework has been developed that permits a standardized integration of numerical simulation software and experimental data relevant to airdrop and aerial delivery operations. The software, called the Simulation Control Module (SCM), has been developed to coordinate the operation of separate analysis modules required to simulate the multicomponent physics of fluid-structure interaction (FSI) problems. The SCM provides a mechanism with which to couple and connect different analysis modules in different ways. This new flexibility allows different flow and structural solvers to be mixed and matched according to user preference. A series of benchmark problems, based upon previously published cases, have been formalized in order to allow the verification of the accuracy and performance of candidate analysis software. This test suite consists of the following: a flat circular disk; a simplified simple rigid canopy; and a coupled FSI simulation of a T-10 canopy.