Multidisciplinary modeling and simulation framework for launch vehicle system dynamics and control

Abstract

Future concepts and key technologies for reusable launch vehicles are currently investigated by the DLR project AKIRA, focusing on vertical takeoff and horizontal landing (VTHL), as well as horizontal takeoff and horizontal landing (HTHL) concepts. Dedicated developments of multidisciplinary frameworks for launch vehicle modeling and preliminary design optimization have been presented in the relevant literature. These activities are often performed by several independent and discipline-specific tools; such an approach can only account for limited interactions of the involved disciplines with the overall system dynamics. Therefore, the objective of this paper is to focus on a multidisciplinary launch vehicle dynamics modeling, guidance, and control framework to support reusable launch vehicle design activities at DLR while taking into account the highly interconnected disciplines involved and changing environmental conditions. The modeling framework is based on the object-oriented, multidisciplinary, and equation-based modeling language MODELICA. Dedicated 3-DOF and 6-DOF model implementations, covering the kinematics and dynamics formulation, environmental effects, aerodynamics, and propulsion models are presented. Within this framework, a method to obtain a direct connection between 3-DOF and 6-DOF models is shown. This is done by considering results from the trajectory optimization package trajOpt in combination with nonlinear 6-DOF inverse models obtained automatically by MODELICA. Angular rates and resulting moments can be retrieved by this intermediate 6-DOF modeling approach for subsequent controllability studies. We discuss some of these benefits in terms of nonlinear flight control simulations for an HTHL reusable launch vehicle concept.