Integration of USM3D into the Store-Separation Process: Current Status and Future Direction*

Simulation of store-separation dynamics is a critical requirement throughout the acquisition process for both advanced fighter aircraft and associated stores. In this paper, recent advances in integrating the unstructured grid computational fluid dynamics (CFD) solver USM3D into the store separation process are presented. The current status of the Chimera or overset grid technology for USM3D is presented. The effectiveness of the overset capability is exploited for both stationary and moving-body simulations through a reduced domain method, automated mesh refinement, and integration with the FD-CADRE movingbody framework. This approach is tailored to improve the integration of CFD simulations with standard six-degree-of-freedom (6DOF) tools used by store-separation analysts. Storeseparation simulations demonstrating the effectiveness of principles are presented and discussed. Finally, the future direction of CFD in general, and USM3D in particular, for providing a seamless integration into the store-separation process is presented, including better integration into the test and evaluation process.