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Case Study
Boost-Glide Vehicle Design & Trade Study
Designed and analyzed a boost-glide vehicle through configuration trade studies, stability analysis, and flight testing.
Problem
Boost-glide vehicles require balancing aerodynamic efficiency, stability through boost and glide phases, and manufacturability within tight mass and geometry constraints.
Role
Aerospace Engineering Student — Vehicle Design & AnalysisUniversity of Colorado Boulder (ASEN 2804) • Spring 2024
Conceptual vehicle design, aerodynamic trade studies, stability analysis, and experimental flight testing.
Tools & Skills
MATLABAerodynamic modelingTrade studies & sensitivity analysisStatic stability analysisFlight test data analysisHand calculations
Results
- Evaluated multiple vehicle configurations and selected a manufacturable boost-glide design based on performance trade studies.
- Performed sensitivity analyses on fuselage length, wing area, taper ratio, and wingspan to optimize glide range and stability.
- Analyzed center-of-gravity travel and static margin during boost and glide phases to assess stability.
- Conducted glide and boost flight tests and compared experimental performance against analytical predictions.
- Identified discrepancies between modeled and real-world behavior, informing design iteration and lessons learned.
Academic project; no proprietary or controlled data included.