ADBSat: Methodology of a novel panel method tool for aerodynamic analysis of satellites
Abstract
ADBSat is a novel software that determines the aerodynamic properties of any body in free-molecular flow. Its main advantage is the fast approximation of the aerodynamics of spacecraft in the lower end of the low-Earth orbit altitude range. It is a novel implementation of a panel method, where the body is represented as a set of fundamental elements and the sum of their individual aerodynamic properties makes up the properties of the whole. ADBSat's approach treats the shape as a set of flat triangular plates. These are read from a CAD geometry file in the Wavefront format, which can be created with most common CAD programs. A choice of gas-surface interaction models is available to represent the physics of free-molecular flow under different conditions. Its modular design means that other models can be easily and quickly implemented. It also benefits from a new shading algorithm for fast determination of elemental flow exposure. An example case is presented to show the capability and functionality of the program.
- Publication:
-
Computer Physics Communications
- Pub Date:
- June 2022
- DOI:
- 10.1016/j.cpc.2022.108326
- arXiv:
- arXiv:2104.05543
- Bibcode:
- 2022CoPhC.27508326S
- Keywords:
-
- Panel method;
- Free molecular flow;
- Orbital aerodynamics;
- Satellite drag;
- Drag analysis;
- Physics - Space Physics
- E-Print:
- 30 pages, 9 figures. Submitted to Computer Physics Communications