Context:
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) recently developed Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) software named PraVaHa.
Relevance:
Facts for Prelims
Dimensions of the Article:
- Overview of PraVaHa Software
- CFD’s Role in Aerospace
Overview of PraVaHa Software
What is PraVaHa Software?
- Full Name: Parallel RANS Solver for Aerospace Vehicle Aero-thermo-dynamic Analysis (PraVaHa).
- Developed By: ISRO’s Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC).
- Type: Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) software.
- Capabilities: Simulates external and internal flows on launch vehicles, including both winged and non-winged re-entry vehicles.
Key Features and Applications:
- Extensive Use: Utilized in the Gaganyaan program for aerodynamic analysis of human-rated launch vehicles, such as HLVM3, Crew Escape System (CES), and Crew Module (CM).
- Collaboration: Secure and flexible for collaborative development with academic institutions and government labs.
- Operational Status: Currently operational for simulating airflow under Perfect Gas and Real Gas conditions.
- Future Enhancements: Undergoing validations to simulate chemical reactions during air dissociation upon ‘earth re-entry’ and ‘combustion’ in scramjet vehicles.
- Replacement Potential: Expected to replace most CFD simulations for aero characterisation currently done using commercial software.
- Educational and Research Utility: Aids academia and other institutions in designing missiles, aircraft, and rockets to solve complex aerodynamic problems.
Importance of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD):
- Design Studies: Initial aerodynamic design studies for launch vehicles require evaluating numerous configurations.
- Aerodynamic and Aerothermal Loads: Aerospace vehicles during launch or re-entry face severe aerodynamic and aerothermal loads in terms of external pressure and heat flux.
- Airflow Understanding: Essential to understand airflow around aircraft, rocket bodies, or Crew Modules (CM) during earth re-entry to design the necessary shape, structure, and Thermal Protection System (TPS).
- Unsteady Aerodynamics: Contributes to significant flow issues around rocket bodies, generating substantial acoustic noise during missions.
- Predictive Tool: CFD predicts aerodynamic and aerothermal loads by numerically solving the equations of conservation of mass, momentum, and energy, along with the equation of state.
Importance and Benefits
PraVaHa’s Impact:
- Advanced Simulations: Enables advanced and accurate simulations crucial for the design and analysis of modern aerospace vehicles.
- Collaborative Development: Its secure and flexible nature supports collaborative projects between academic and governmental research institutions.
- Cost-Effective: Potentially reduces dependency on expensive commercial CFD software by providing an in-house alternative.
CFD’s Role in Aerospace:
- Design Optimization: Critical in optimizing the design and safety of aerospace vehicles.
- Performance Prediction: Helps in predicting vehicle performance under various atmospheric conditions, ensuring mission success.
- Research and Innovation: Facilitates research and innovation in aerodynamics, contributing to advancements in aerospace technology.
-Source: The Hindu
