Software, Simulations etc. (last update 27. June 2004)

Here a collection of software, online simulators etc.  which might be interesting for our visitors. Some are written by SPL members, some are just links to other sites.
Online Simulations Combustion simulation Trajectory-,tracking programs Aerodynamics CAD/CAE engineering etc. Data acquisition Miscellaneous Other software collections 
 
Online Simulations
  • Atmos, calculates properties of the atmosphere in function of altitude, speed and characteristical length (speed and length are optional)
  • Rocket Workbench, open software project. CPROPEP as a replacement for the old PROPEP. Computation of complex chemical equilibria of a perfect gas and pure  condensed species in order to characterize rocket motor performance. This  software intend to be a replacement of the highly useful propep while allowing more flexibility. 
  • Thruster, Online calculation of a LOX/Kerosene engine. Gives you the major dimensions of the combustion- chamber, nozzle etc. 
 
Combustion simulation, motor performance prediction
  • EQS4WIN, Chemical Equilibrium Software, A thermodynamic equilibrium computation is a useful design aid in providing an assessment of the possible behaviors of a complex reacting chemical system. Free Demo available. For Windows platforms.
  • GDLpep, James Lanier's Gui front end for PROPEP (which is included and will also be installed by the setup program). For Windows platforms. local file
  • GDP, Grain design program by AED. Capable of calculating ALL 2-D designs, like star, moonburner, bates, etc. Grains which can not be treated analytically, are treated graphically. Demo available. DOS platforms (works also under Win 95/98/NT)
  • GUIPEP, written by Arthur J. Lekstutis. GUIPEP provides a graphical user interface to run the PROPEP propellant evaluation program. PROPEP is a program that determines the chemical equilibrium composition for the combustion of a solid or liquid rocket propellant. Additionally, it determines rocket performance parameters such as Isp and C*, and nozzle design parameters. For Windows platforms. (local file of Guipep) (local file of PROPEP).
    An updateted version of the material property file PEPCODED.DAF with lots of new ingredients is available here (thanks Ray!). A local copy can be found here.
  • Grains-2,  Grain characterization program (Excel spreadsheet) written by Troy Prideaux
  • Rocket Workbench, open software project. CPROPEP as a replacement for the old PROPEP. Computation of complex chemical equilibria of a perfect gas and pure  condensed species in order to characterize rocket motor performance. This  software intend to be a replacement of the highly useful propep while allowing more flexibility. CPROPEP is a command line program for WIN x and various UNIX derivates. Hans Olaf Toft has written a Windows GUI for it. The latest propellant definition file can be downloaded here (you have to rename it into propellant.dat) or locally (already renamed) from the SPL homepage.
  • SRM_Beta.xls, Solid Rocket Motor Design (Excel spreadsheet) written by Richard Nakka, primarily intended for designing motors using KN-Dextrose or KN-Sorbitol propellant, other propellants may be specified with user defined propellant properties. Solely for hollow cylindrical grain configurations, such as BATES. (local file)
 
Trajectory-, tracking programs
  • Ascent 2.0, professional trajectory simulator. For Windows platforms.
  • Ascent, trajectory simulator written by Richard Samuel from ASRI for their AUSROC program. For Windows platforms.
  • RockSim by Apogee, Design tool for small rockets. For Windows platforms.
  • LAUNH, written by Hans Olaf Toft from DARK. 2D (3D) Rocket trajectory and impact calculation, Version 2.0A. Simulates rockets with up to 5 stages. User definable or built in Mach dependent drag coefficient. User definable or built in thrust curves. User definable overlay maps with import facilities for GPS and other geographical data. Extensive plotting facilities of trajectory data. For Windows platforms. (local file)
  • Satellite Tool Kit,  is the core in a suite of analysis software tools that addresses all phases of a space systems life cycle, from policy development and design to launch and operations. Based on simple user inputs, STK generates paths for a variety of space- and ground based objects, such as satellites, ships, aircraft and land vehicles. STK provides animation capabilities and a two-dimensional map background for visualizing the path of these vehicles over time. For Windows and UNIX platforms.
 
Aerodynamics
  • MicroTunnel, Computational Fluid Dynamics Program for the PC, MicroTunnel analyzes 2-D subsonic, transonic, and supersonic flow (Mach 0.1 to 3.0) over multi-element configurations on a raster type Cartesian mesh. Flow visualization is provided through color contour plots of local Mach number, density, pressure, and temperature, including streamline plots. Shock waves are easily captured! For Windows platforms.
  • RockSim by Apogee, Design tool for small rockets. For Windows platforms.
  • SNACK, air foil design tool. For Windows platforms.
  • Aerorocket, great and affordable CFD software
 
CAD/CAE engineering etc.
  • B2 Spice, Electronic Circuit Design & Simulation Software for Windows and Macintosh
  • EAGLE PCB Layout/Schematic/Autorouter Software. Full functional demo available. For Windows platforms.
  • Free Mechanical Engineering Software, collection of engineering's software
  • MultiSTRIP Antenna Software, The MultiSTRIP program is written to analyze and design multilayered arbitrary shaped microstrip antennas on multiple dielectric layers. The solution is done by rigorous solution of integral equation via Galerkin Method (Moment Method) and using the correct Greens functions. Therefore all relevant effects like radiation, surface waves propagating in the substrate and dielectric losses are taken into account. Those rigorous methods have been usually restricted to mainframe computer systems or at least powerful workstations. Implementation on small PC's is difficult due to large computation time and large memory requirements. For Windows platforms. (local filelocal manual)
  • INTERNET   FINITE   ELEMENT   RESOURCES
 
Data acquisition
  • COMEDI, Linux Control and Measurement device interface. The Comedi project develops open-source drivers, tools, and libraries for data acquisition. Comedi is a collection of drivers for a variety of common data acquisition plug-in boards. The drivers are implemented as a core Linux kernel module providing common functionality and individual low-level driver modules. 
  • DASYLAB, DAQ Software. For Windows platforms.
  • LINUX LAB  data acquisition, process control, laboratory automation and data analysis under LINUX (also real-time)
  • R-DAS, Software for the R-DAS flight recorder. For Windows platforms (also CE!).
 
Miscellaneous
  • Convert,  converts units for Force, Pressure, Density, Area, Distance, Volume and several other measures. For Windows platforms. (local file)
 
Other software related link collections