The motion of a store or external load at the moment of separation from the carrier platform is defined across six independent degrees of freedom. CFTools' 6-DOF solver computes this motion over time, starting from your aerodynamic database.
The motion of a body in space is fully defined by six independent components: translation along the x/y/z axes and rotation about those axes (roll, pitch, yaw). In a problem like store separation, where the body stays close to the carrier and aerodynamic interference is strong, solving all six components together and over time is essential for correctly assessing safe clearance.
CFTools takes your CFD- or wind-tunnel-derived aerodynamic coefficient database as input and, combined with mass, moments of inertia, and initial conditions, solves the equations of motion over discrete time steps.
At every time step, the body's position and attitude are computed, letting you examine the separating body's distance from the carrier and its rotational behavior step by step.
The computed trajectory can be compared against existing wind tunnel or flight test reference data to confirm the model's accuracy — evidence that supports the reliability of the numerical method in a certification package.
The 6-DOF solution is rarely used alone: combined with Monte Carlo risk analysis and clearance checking, it speeds up the pre-flight numerical verification of a new store/platform combination. See other use cases.