Kestrel v2.0 - 6DoF and Control Surface Additions to a CREATE Simulation Tool

This paper documents the second version of a new integrating product that allows crossover between simulation of aerodynamics, dynamic stability and control, structures, propulsion, and store separation. The Kestrel software product is an integrating product written in modular form with a Python infrastructure to allow growth to additional capabilities as needed. Computational efficiency will also be improved by targeting the next generation peta-flop architectures envisioned for the 2010+ time frame. The need for Kestrel developed from the fact that existing computational resources (hardware and CSE software) are insufficient to generate decision data in a timely enough way to impact early-phase and even many sustainment phase acquisition processes. Kestrel is also targeted to the need of simulating multi-disciplinary physics such as fluid-structure interactions, inclusion of propulsion effects, moving control surfaces, and coupled flight control systems. The Kestrel software product is to address these needs for fixed-wing aircraft in flight regimes ranging from subsonic through supersonic flight, including maneuvers, multi-aircraft configurations, and operational conditions. Version 2.0 adds a 6 Degree of Freedom (6DoF) component to provide a predictive motion capability and a moving control surface capability to allow more realistic aircraft simulations. Version 2.0 also provides parallel scalability performance improvements for moving and deforming mesh use cases.