Anvil

The team has developed a proprietary integration code called ANVIL. Anvil is a batch processing code that we have developed to automatically create large aerodynamic databases for any vehicle configuration and seamlessly feed it into a variety of trajectory optimization codes, so that an engineer can analyze a full configuration in only a few minutes, compared to a few hours.

Aerodynamic design of the rocket was carried out through the Air Force’s Missile Data Compendium (Missile DATCOM). Missile DATCOM was developed by McDonald Douglas in 1981 and has remained the state of the art for aerodynamic design of modern missiles and sounding rockets. The Fortran-based code computes aerodynamic forces, moments, and stability derivatives as a function of angle of attack and Mach number.

Trajectory modeling was performed by a program called Aerospace Trajectory Optimization Software (ASTOS) created by Astos Solutions. ASTOS is a 6 Degree of Freedom (DOF) Trajectory Optimization code developed in 1989 with support from the European Space Agency. The code was used to create performance maps for the Ariane 6, Soyuz, and X-38 programs. We use it to evaluate the flight performance of our vehicle. The code also allows us to accurately determine landing zones for jettisoned stages and other hardware.

Anvil is a proprietary software that is currently available to all Embry Riddle students. Please contact us for software requests.