RocPerf: An OpenFOAM-based software tool for internal ballistic simulations of solid rocket motors.

Simulation GIF

RocPerf is a comprehensive, OpenFOAM-based framework for simulating high-speed, gas-particle multiphase flows, capturing the time-resolved evolution of flow fields over the firing duration of rocket motors.

It's a powerful tool for researchers and engineers to study complex internal ballistics, capture propellant regression, and accurately evaluate key performance metrics like thrust, C*, and Isp. Check out more information in the github pages: https://ganeshkumar-v.github.io/RocPerf/

🛠️ Requirements

Platform: Linux
Core: OpenFOAM (developed and tested on v2112. This version is recommended, though it may work on other versions.)
Compiler: C++ (GCC or Intel)
Build System: make and OpenFOAM toolchain (wmake, Allwmake)

Note: This repository contains a bashrc at the project root to set up the environment. The platforms/ directory contains the library and the applications build on this project

🚀 Quick Start — Compilation

Ensure OpenFOAM v2112 is installed and source its environment before building this project.
Clone the repository in your preferred parent directory (e.g., your projects folder), then enter the project directory:
```
git clone https://github.com/Ganeshkumar-V/RocPerf.git
cd RocPerf
```
Source the project bashrc to set up the environment:
```
source bashrc
```
Compile the libraries, applications, and utilities:
```
./Allwmake
```
(Optional: run ./Allwclean before building to clean the project.)

🤝 Contributing

Contributions are welcome. Please open an issue to describe the change, then fork the repository and create a pull request. Follow the existing code style and respect the project's license (GPL-3.0).

📄 License

Distributed under the GNU General Public License v3 (GPL-3.0). See the LICENSE file for the full text.

This software is an independent project and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or associated with OpenCFD Ltd or the OpenFOAM® project. OpenFOAM® is a registered trademark of OpenCFD Ltd.

🧑‍🔬 Authors and Acknowledgements

Lead Developer: Ganeshkumar V
Developed under the supervision of: Prof. Dilip Srinivas Sundaram

📜 Citation

If you use this software in published work, please cite the associated paper:

Venukumar, Ganeshkumar and Sundaram, Dilip Srinivas, "Computational Study of Propulsive Performance of Frozen Nano-Aluminum and Water (ALICE) Mixtures," Journal of Propulsion and Power, vol. 41, no. 3, pp. 330–346, 2025. https://doi.org/10.2514/1.B39541

Suggested BibTeX:

@article{doi:10.2514/1.B39541,
author = {Venukumar, Ganeshkumar and Sundaram, Dilip Srinivas},
title = {Computational Study of Propulsive Performance of Frozen Nano-Aluminum and Water (ALICE) Mixtures},
journal = {Journal of Propulsion and Power},
volume = {41},
number = {3},
pages = {330-346},
year = {2025},
doi = {10.2514/1.B39541}
}

📬 Contact

If you encounter problems, please open an issue on the repository.

RocPerf

Install / Use

README