ADBSat: Verification and validation of a novel panel method for quick aerodynamic analysis of satellites
Abstract
We present the validation of ADBSat, a novel implementation of the panel method including a fast pseudo-shading algorithm, that can quickly and accurately determine the forces and torques on satellites in free-molecular flow. Our main method of validation is comparing test cases between ADBSat, the current de facto standard of direct simulation Monte Carlo (DSMC), and published literature. ADBSat exhibits a significantly shorter runtime than DSMC and performs well, except where deep concavities are present in the satellite models. The shading algorithm also experiences problems when a large proportion of the satellite surface area is oriented parallel to the flow, but this can be mitigated by examining the body at small angles to this configuration (± 0.1°). We recommend that an error interval on ADBSat outputs of up to 3% is adopted. Therefore, ADBSat is a suitable tool for quickly determining the aerodynamic characteristics of a wide range of satellite geometries in different environmental conditions in VLEO. It can also be used in a complementary manner to identify cases that warrant further investigation using other numerical-based methods.
- Publication:
-
Computer Physics Communications
- Pub Date:
- June 2022
- DOI:
- 10.1016/j.cpc.2022.108327
- arXiv:
- arXiv:2110.06118
- Bibcode:
- 2022CoPhC.27508327S
- Keywords:
-
- Panel method;
- Free molecular flow;
- Orbital aerodynamics;
- Satellite drag;
- Software validation;
- Direct simulation Monte Carlo;
- Physics - Space Physics;
- Astrophysics - Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics
- E-Print:
- 30 pages, 15 figures. Submitted to Computer Physics Communications