(Georgia Institute of Technology, 2001-05)
Bechtel, Ryan S.
The extreme cost, high risk and technological difficulty of access to space are all
key factors hindering mankind's continued exploration of the solar system. As a result,
safe, low-cost and technically feasible vehicle concepts are constantly being explored. One such concept currently receiving interest is the use of turbine engines as part of a
launch vehicle’s propulsion system. These turbine engines may be utilized during the boost phase of a two-stage launch vehicle or part of a combined cycle engine on a single-stage-to-orbit vehicle.
Although turbine engines themselves have reached a high level of maturity in the aircraft industry, their use in space launch systems is at a relatively low development level. As a result, much of the inquiry into vehicle types utilizing turbine engines is being performed at the conceptual level. At the conceptual level of design it is possible to explore many
options and engine types since costs are relatively low, and design freedom is large. It is
therefore helpful to have a design tool that allows rapid analysis of many engine types
and configurations over a wide range of operating conditions. The Turbine-Based Engine Analysis Tool, T-BEAT, has been created to fulfill such a need.
T-BEAT was written in C++ and can be run either directly from a UNIX
workstation or remotely through the World Wide Web. The program can analyze many
configurations including a turbojet, afterburning turbojet, ramjet, and turbine-based combined-cycle engine. T-BEAT provides thrust and Isp for off-design conditions set by the user. The output can be retrieved in the form of a POST engine deck, which helps
speed up the design process. Validation for the program was performed using existing
codes.