Transatmospheric and Spacecraft Propulsion
Week 1 Introduction
- rocket fundamentals (thrust equation, specific impulse, total impulse, effective exhaust velocity, ideal rocket equation, inert mass fraction, thrust level)
- brief review of vehicle staging, velocity budget, steering
Week 2 Review of Thermodynamics
- review of Steady Flow Energy Equation (SFEE), enthalpy, perfect gas law, specific heat, entropy
- review of isentropic flow in 1D as related to nozzle flows, characteristic exhaust velocity, overexpansion & underexpansion, nozzle efficiency
- review of heat addition and heat transfer (for nozzle throat ceramic coating design)
Case Study 1: Design of a Cold Gas Thruster
Week 3 Review of Thermochemistry
- overview of bond energy, constant-V and constant-p processes, heats of formation, reaction, fusion, vaporization, products of combustion
- flame temperature
- chemical kinetics
- combustion of liquids vs. solids
Weeks 4-6 Liquid Rockets
- operating principles of monopropellant and bipropellant systems
- system components: propellant feed systems (tank-pressure vs. turbo-pump feeding), propellant storage, tank pressurization, propellant flow control, interconnections, thrust chamber, thrust vector control, structural mounts, propellants
- design process
Case Study 2: Design of a Liquid Rocket
Week 7-8 Solid Rockets
- operating principle
- system components: motor casings, thrust skirts and polar bosses, igniters, internal insulation, nozzles, thrust-vector control
- solid rocket propellants: fuels, binders, burning rate, grain types
- performance prediction
- design process
Case Study 3: Design of a Solid Rocket
Week 9-11 Hybrid Rockets
- operating principle
- system components
- internal ballistics: burning rate expressions, effect of pressure, correlation with experimental data
- design process
Case Study 4: Design of a Hybrid Rocket
Week 12 Advanced Engine Concepts
- Nuclear propulsion
- Electric propulsion
- Air-augmented rockets
- Non-rocket advancements & interstellar flight
- rocket fundamentals (thrust equation, specific impulse, total impulse, effective exhaust velocity, ideal rocket equation, inert mass fraction, thrust level)
- brief review of vehicle staging, velocity budget, steering
Week 2 Review of Thermodynamics
- review of Steady Flow Energy Equation (SFEE), enthalpy, perfect gas law, specific heat, entropy
- review of isentropic flow in 1D as related to nozzle flows, characteristic exhaust velocity, overexpansion & underexpansion, nozzle efficiency
- review of heat addition and heat transfer (for nozzle throat ceramic coating design)
Case Study 1: Design of a Cold Gas Thruster
Week 3 Review of Thermochemistry
- overview of bond energy, constant-V and constant-p processes, heats of formation, reaction, fusion, vaporization, products of combustion
- flame temperature
- chemical kinetics
- combustion of liquids vs. solids
Weeks 4-6 Liquid Rockets
- operating principles of monopropellant and bipropellant systems
- system components: propellant feed systems (tank-pressure vs. turbo-pump feeding), propellant storage, tank pressurization, propellant flow control, interconnections, thrust chamber, thrust vector control, structural mounts, propellants
- design process
Case Study 2: Design of a Liquid Rocket
Week 7-8 Solid Rockets
- operating principle
- system components: motor casings, thrust skirts and polar bosses, igniters, internal insulation, nozzles, thrust-vector control
- solid rocket propellants: fuels, binders, burning rate, grain types
- performance prediction
- design process
Case Study 3: Design of a Solid Rocket
Week 9-11 Hybrid Rockets
- operating principle
- system components
- internal ballistics: burning rate expressions, effect of pressure, correlation with experimental data
- design process
Case Study 4: Design of a Hybrid Rocket
Week 12 Advanced Engine Concepts
- Nuclear propulsion
- Electric propulsion
- Air-augmented rockets
- Non-rocket advancements & interstellar flight
