- The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has developed Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) software named Parallel RANS Solver for Aerospace Vehicle Aero-thermo-dynamic Analysis (PraVaHa).
- This software was developed in ISRO’s Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC).
- It can simulate external and internal flows on launch vehicles, winged and non-winged re-entry vehicles.
- Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) is a tool to predict the aerodynamic and aerothermal loads which solve numerically the equations of conservation of mass, momentum, and energy along with the equation of state.
- PraVaHa has been used extensively in the Gaganyaan program for aerodynamic analysis of human-rated launch vehicles, viz, HLVM3, Crew Escape System (CES), and Crew Module.
- Currently, the PraVaHa code is operational to simulate airflow for Perfect Gas and Real Gas conditions.
Aerodynamics involved in Aerospace Vehicle
- Any aerospace vehicle while moving through the Earth’s atmosphere during launch or re-entry is subjected to severe aerodynamic and aerothermal loads in terms of external pressure and heat flux.
- Understanding the airflow around aircraft, rocket bodies, or Crew Module (CM) during earth re-entry is essential to design the shape, structure, and Thermal Protection System (TPS) required for these bodies.
- The unsteady part of aerodynamics contributes to serious flow issues around such rocket bodies and creates significant acoustic noise during the mission.
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