RocPerf
An OpenFOAM-based software tool for internal ballistic simulations of solid rocket motors.
RocPerf: Rocket Performance CFD
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.
Core Simulation Capabilities
The framework's core is a robust Euler-Euler multiphase flow solver that solves separate mass, momentum, and energy equations for both the gas and particle phases. This approach allows for the high-fidelity resolution of complex physics inside the rocket motor with the following capabilities:
Capable of simulating single-phase and two-phase (gas-particle) flows within arbitrary complex flow domains (CD Nozzle, Rocket Motor, etc).
Accurately models the propellant regression for common grain geometries such as center-perforated and end-burning configurations (future releases will handle arbitrary grain geometries).
Mass, momentum and energy exchange transport between the gas and particle phases for all flow regimes (inertial, compressible and rarefield flow regimes).
Models collisions and interactions between particles and with the walls.
A Complete Toolkit for Propulsion Analysis
To facilitate propulsion research, this suite includes a comprehensive set of integrated tools designed for direct propulsion analysis:
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Specialized Boundary Conditions
Includes specialized boundary conditions relevant for propulsion simulations:
- Mass flow rate inlet boundary conditions for the particle and gas phase
- Burning rate based dynamic mass flow rate inlet condition for the propellant surface
- Dynamic pressure outlet condition for all speed flows, etc.
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Performance Utilities
Dedicated tools designed to:
- Initialize propellant volume fraction field based on exact propellant grain dimensions.
- Post-process results for key performance parameters (thrust, mass flow rate, etc.).
- Map solution fields based on volume for grid convergence studies and a posteriori error estimation.
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Tutorial and Validation Cases
A comprehensive set of tutorial and validation cases to demonstrate solver capabilities and accelerate the learning curve for new users.
Quick Installation
Get started by cloning the repository and running the compile script. Requires a working OpenFOAM installation (e.g., v2112).
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1. Ensure OpenFOAM-v2112 is sourced
Ensure your OpenFOAM installation (e.g., v2112) is installed and sourced in your terminal. If you need to install it, you can follow the official OpenFOAM-v2112 build instructions ↗
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2. Clone the repository and enter the directory
$ git clone https://github.com/Ganeshkumar-V/Propellant-Regression-Framework.git$ cd Propellant-Regression-Framework -
3. Source the project 'bashrc'
$ source bashrc -
4. Compile the project
$ ./Allwmake(Optional: run
./Allwcleanfirst to clean the project.)
Contribute to RocPerf
RocPerf is proudly open-source. Whether you've found a bug, have a feature request, or want to contribute code, your input drives the project forward.
Report an IssueCitation
If you use this software in your research, we kindly request that you cite the following publication:
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.B39541Suggested 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}
}