Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-gvvz8 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-26T17:40:19.660Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Design and structural analysis of a thrust chamber for a spinning supersonic rocket – a case study

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 February 2016

K. M. Rajan
Affiliation:
Armament Research and Development Establishment, Pune, India
K. Narasimhan
Affiliation:
Department of Metallurgical Engineering and Materials Science, Indian Institute of Technology, Mumbai, India

Abstract

The design of a thrust chamber for a rocket propulsion system is a challenging task. The thrust chamber has to be designed for minimum structural weight with an adequate factor of safety. This calls for a thorough knowledge of various structural loads, both internal and external, and the behaviour of the structure in flight. This paper presents the design and structural analysis of a pressure vessel used as thrust chamber for a rocket propulsion unit. The effects of kinetic heating, thermal stress, spinning and various aerodynamic loads and their mutual interactions are accounted for in this analysis. Based on a detailed stress analysis of the components and a modal/structural dynamic analysis of the flight vehicle as a whole, in which the thrust chamber is the main load bearing member, the required mechanical properties of the thrust chamber are obtained.

Type
Case Report
Copyright
Copyright © Royal Aeronautical Society 2005 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1. Sutton, G.P. and Ross, D.M., Rocket Propulsion Elements, 4th Ed, John Wiley and Sons, 1976, New York.Google Scholar
2. Chin, S.S., Missile Configuration Design, McGraw-Hill Book Company, 1961, USA.Google Scholar
3. Bruhn, E. F., Analysis and design of flight vehicle structures, Tri-State Offset Company, 1973, USA.Google Scholar
4. Hurtly, W.C. and Rubinstein, M.F., Dynamics of Structures, Printice Hall of India Pvt, 1967, New Delhi.Google Scholar
5. Pandey, D.S., Srinivasan, K., Naidu, V.V. and Vidyasagar, K.. Structural testing – a review for applications to missile systems, ICSTAD Proceedings, 3, 29 July–3 August, 1990, Bangalore, India, pp 12001201.Google Scholar
6. Verner, L.A. and Sumner, A.L.. Prediction and measurement of natural vibrations of multistage launch vehicles, AIAA J, January 1963, 1, (2), p 377.Google Scholar
7. Likins, P.W., Barbera, F.J. and Buldeley, V.. Mathematical modelling of spinning elastic bodies for modal analysis, AIAA J, September 1973, 11, (9), pp 12571258.Google Scholar
8. Laurenson, R.M.. Modal analysis of rotating flexible structures, AIAA J, October 1976, 14, (1), pp 14441450.Google Scholar
9. Zohar, A. and Aboundi, J.. Free vibration of thin circular finite rotating cylinder, 1973, J Mech. Sciences, 15, pp 260278.Google Scholar