Confirmation of Candidature - Candidate : Flynn Hack

This project was formed as part of an Australian Research Council (ARC) Discovery Project funding scheme (Project DP220102751 - Dispersion of Spacecraft Components During Re-entry). The primary ARC project aims are:
1. To develop new techniques for hypersonic wind tunnels, including new optical tracking methods
and new methods for suspending cylinders and rectangular prisms, that enable accurate
measurement of dispersion in simulated experiments on destructive re-entry events.
2. Develop the capability for computational simulation and modelling of the dispersion of objects
in hypersonic flow through high fidelity simulations and experiments on irregular multi-object
configurations.
3. Apply the experimental and computational results to the modelling of dispersion with uncertainty
quantification for destructive re-entry through the atmosphere.
The proposed project focuses on a reduced scope of work, aligned to the ARC project aims 2. and 3. An initial
review of literature aligned to these aims identified two key research gaps: the breadth and depth
of formation flying hypersonic aerodynamic force characterisation and the effect of initial condition
uncertainty on representative spacecraft component trajectory calculations.

To fill these gaps, novel compressible flow Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) techniques
will be used to calculate the aerodynamic forces experienced by spacecraft components shortly after
breakup (formation flying). The Aerodynamic forces calculate using these CFD techniques will then
be applied to six degree of freedom trajectory calculations, where Monte Carlo techniques will then be
used to assess the effect of uncertainty on their impact location. Further details on the project proposal
are outlined in the body of the confirmation of candidature report.

For more information, please email the Graduate Research School (GRS) or for the zoom link, please phone the GRS 07 46 31 1088.