PraVaHa Software

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has developed a CFD software called PraVaHa, which stands for Parallel RANS Solver for Aerospace Vehicle Aero-thermo-dynamic Analysis.

About PraVaHa Software:

1. Purpose and Development:

   1. PraVaHa is a CFD software created by ISRO's Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC).
   2. It aims to analyze the aerodynamics and aerothermodynamics of aerospace vehicles like launch vehicles and winged or non-winged re-entry vehicles.

2. Applications in the Gaganyaan Program:

   1. PraVaHa has been extensively used in the Gaganyaan program for aerodynamic analysis of human-rated launch vehicles, including HLVM3, Crew Escape System (CES), and Crew Module (CM).

3. Collaborative Development:

   1. The software is designed to be secure and flexible, facilitating collaborative development with academic institutions and government laboratories.

4. Current Capabilities:

   1. PraVaHa currently simulates airflow for Perfect Gas and Real Gas conditions.
   2. Validations are underway for simulating chemical reactions during air dissociation upon earth re-entry and combustion in scramjet vehicles.

5. Potential Impact:

   1. PraVaHa is expected to replace most of the CFD simulations for aerodynamic characterization, which are currently being carried out using commercial software.
   2. It will help academia and organizations involved in designing missiles, aircraft, and rockets find solutions to complex aerodynamic problems.

Importance of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD):

1. Initial Aerodynamic Design Studies:

   1. CFD is a tool used in initial aerodynamic design studies for launch vehicles, where numerous configurations need to be evaluated.

2. Aerodynamic and Aerothermal Loads:

   1. Aerospace vehicles experience severe aerodynamic and aerothermal loads during launch or re-entry due to external pressure and heat flux.

3. Understanding Airflow:

   1. Understanding airflow around aircraft, rocket bodies, or CMs during earth re-entry is crucial for designing their shape, structure, and Thermal Protection System (TPS).

4. Unsteady Aerodynamics:

   1. The unsteady part of aerodynamics contributes to flow issues around rocket bodies and creates acoustic noise during missions.

5. CFD as a Predictive Tool:

   1. CFD is a valuable tool for predicting aerodynamic and aerothermal loads by numerically solving the equations of conservation of mass, momentum, and energy.

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