Grid Graphical Analysis Package (GridGAP) for store separation testing at AEDC

The Grid Graphical Analysis Package (GridGAP) is a computer graphics tool developed at the Arnold Engineering Development Center (AEDC). It is used to graphically model the hardware configuration for a Captive Trajectory Support (CTS) grid wind tunnel test installation and determine if collisions will occur between models and hardware components involved in proposed grid test sequences. GridGAP will computationally replicate the in-tunnel grid set checkout process which is expensive and time-consuming. It has an integrated engineering assistant and a graphical user interface, making it easy for the engineer to use. During a GridGAP session, the user can manipulate the hardware display image in many ways to view any aspect, and can step through a grid set forwards or backwards. At any point, clearances can be viewed and calculated and collisions, if present, can be detected visually or computationally. Alternately, an entire grid set can be processed automatically in the background and the clearance results tabulated. The result is a grid data set that includes more of the crucial, close-proximity data points, is obtained at a lower cost, and will require fewer wind tunnel occupancy hours to execute.