Simulation and analyses of stage separation of two-stage reusable launch vehicles

The development of methodologies, techniques, and tools for analysis and simulation of stage separation is critically needed for successful design and operation of next-generation reusable launch vehicles. As a part of this activity, the ConSep simulation tool is being developed, which is a MATLAB-based front and back end to the commercially available ADAMS solver, an industry standard package for solving multibody dynamic problems. This paper discusses the application of ConSep to the simulation and analysis of staging maneuvers of two-stage-toor-bit bimese reusable launch vehicles, one staging at Mach 3 and the other at Mach 6. The proximity and isolated aerodynamic database were assembled using available wind-tunnel test data. The effects of parametric variatibns in mass, inertia, flight path angle, and altitude from their nominal values at staging were evaluated. Monte Carlo runs were performed for Mach 3 staging to evaluate the sensitivity to uncertainties in aerodynamic. coefficients.