LEAP 71 RP/CEM
A Computational Engineering Model
for Space Propulsion

RP/CEM is a robust Computational Engineering Model for rocket propulsion systems under active development by LEAP 71.

The Computational Engineering Model (CEM) produces a variety of spacecraft components and integrated systems, including injector heads, traditional bell-nozzle type combustion chambers, as well as advanced engines such as aerospike.

RP/CEM uses analytical formulae, heuristics, and condensed aerospace engineering knowledge, all encoded in a coherent algorithmic framework.

RP/CEM allows engineers to go from abstract input specifications such as propellant types, desired thrust, chamber pressure, to a manufacturable engine geometry in minutes. Through a wide set of parameters, designs can be iterated on, physical simulation results fed back, as well as actual testing data, to quickly converge on a validated engine prototype.

LEAP 71 is working with partners on theoretical and physical validation of the designs that are generated by our algorithms. We work with the world’s leading Additive Manufacturing companies to ensure manufacturability.

More:
What is Computational Engineering?
Advantages of Computational Engineering
How we collaborate

Explore

Thank you to the jury of the @3dpioneerschallenge for recognizing us with an award for @picogk our foundational software stack, which we #opensourced last year. We believe free and open access to software for #ComputationalEngineering is essential to move the design of our physical world to the next level. Big shoutout to the organizers for bringing together amazing entries from all over the world to compete for the prize.

A large experimental coaxial swirl injector head for a thrust-vectoring three combustion chamber #aerospike #rocket engine

#occupymars

Test assembly of a small 1kN thruster built entirely through our #ComputationalEngineering Model for space propulsion, RP/CEM.

Big thank you to 🇨🇳 #Eplus3D for producing another one of our parts. This is a liquid-liquid heat exchanger with helical micro pipes for the hot fluid, generated through one of our #ComputationalEngineering Models.

Let’s build extremely efficient #heatexchangers using #ComputationalEngineering

The #aerospike #rocket that launched @picogk - we created our #opensource geometry kernel in order to embark on this multi-metal #3dprinted #aerospace part with the @fraunhofer.igcv and @nikonslmsolutions

Let’s build some efficient #heatexchangers! Shoutout to @mimotechnik for the great print.

We have been busy #iterating on all these rocket injector heads. Fortunately our #ComputationalEngineering Models allow us to make last-minute changes to the design without manual work.

We ❤️ small thrusters - 1kN thruster generated by our #ComputationalEngineering model for space propulsion RP/CEM.

Energy use of #datacenters will continue to rise in the coming years, as #ai models are trained. Water cooling of electronics, directly at the component level, can dramatically reduce the energy required for cooling.

Lots of connectors and instrumentation ports on this 5kN thruster. Designed with our #ComputationalEngineering Model for space propulsion, RP/CEM.

Getting ready to move rocket thruster development to a new level, using our #ComputationalEngineering Model for space propulsion RP/CEM.

Let’s build some #turbomachinery

That satisfying feeling when the parts emerge from the #3dprinter - thanks @mimotechnik for another great print of a large #heatexchanger created through our #ComputationalEngineering Model.

With the #cherryblossoms in full bloom while we are visiting Japan, we couldn’t resist posting a #quasicrystal #sakura edition.

Industrial #3dprinting enables us to build electric motors that are significantly more capable than conventional ones. Our #ComputationalEngineering Model for electric actuation EA/CEM can generate highly sophisticated motor geometries flexibly and automatically.

We #opensourced the #ComputationalEngineering Model for this heat exchanger a while ago. Check it out on our GitHub.

#eidmubarak to all our friends in the #uae. Islamic scholars created the patterns that led to the discovery of #quasicrystals - let’s harness the power of these structures for #ComputationalEngineering.

Want to use aperiodic tiling and quasi-crystalline structures for engineering? We just released an #opensource library for this on our #github

Big thank you to @mimotechnik for this beautiful #fdm #multimaterial print (@bambulab_official) of our spherical electric motor prototype. Built through #computationalengineering.

Let’s harness the interesting properties of #quasicrystals for engineering structures.

Extended RP/CEM family picture. The tiny 3.5kN engine is the newest output of our algorithm. Looking forward to a hot fire soon. #ComputationalEngineering

#ComputationalEngineering Models easily create complex piping systems and manifolds and can reroute and reconfigure them in seconds when inputs change.