Rocket Propulsion

The fundamental aspects of rockets and the current trends in rocket propulsion are dealt with in this course. Starting with description of motion in space, the requirements of rockets for placing space-crafts in different orbits and escaping the gravitational fields of the planets are examined. The operating principles and design aspects of solid propellant, liquid propellant, electrical, nuclear and other types of rockets are dealt with. INTENDED AUDIENCE : BE/ME/MS/MSc/PhD PREREQUISITES : NIL INDUSTRY SUPPORT : DRDO, ISRO, HAL, Space and Defense-related industries

Week 1 : Chap 1: Motion in Space Lec 1: Introduction Lec 2: Motion in Space Lec 3: Rotational Frame of Reference and Orbital Velocities Week 2 : Lec 4: Velocity Requirements Chap 2: Theory of Rockets Lec 5: Theory of rocket propulsion Lec 6: Rocket Equation and Staging of Rockets Week 3 : Lec 7: Review of Rocket Principles: Propulsion Efficiency Chap 3: Nozzles Lec 8: Examples Illustrating Theory of Rocket Propulsion and Introduction to Nozzles. Lec 9: Theory of Nozzles Week 4 : Lec 10: Nozzle Shape Lec 11: Area Ratio of Nozzles: Under Expansion and Over Expansion Lec 12: Characteristic Velocity and Thrust Coefficient Week 5 : Lec 13: Divergence Loss in Conical Nozzles and the Bell Nozzles Lec 14: Unconventional Nozzles and Problems in Nozzles Chap 4: Propellants Lec 15: Criterion for Choice of Chemical Propellants Week 6 : Lec 16: Choice of Fuel-Rich Propellants Lec 17: Performance Prediction Analysis Lec 18: Factors Influencing Choice of Chemical Propellants Week 7 : Lec 19: Low energy liquid propellants and Hybrid propellants Chap 5: Solid Propellant Rockets Lec 20: Introduction to Solid Propellant Rockets Lec 21: Burn Rate of Solid Propellants and Equilibrium Pressure in Solid Propellant Rockets. Week 8 : Lec 22: Design Aspects of Solid Propellant Rockets. Lec 23: Burning Surface Area of Solid Propellant Grains. Lec 24: Ignition of Solid Propellant Rockets. Week 9 : Lec 25: Review of Solid Propellant Rockets. Lec 26: Feed Systems for Liquid Propellant Rockets. Lec 27: Feed System Cycles for Pump Fed Liquid Propellant Rockets. Week 10 : Lec 28: Analysis of Gas Generator and Staged combustion cycles and introduction to injectors Lec 29: Injectors, Cooling of Chambers and Mixture Ratio Distribution Lec 30: Efficiencies due to mixture ratio distribution and incomplete vaporization. Week 11 : Lec 31: Pumps and Turbines: Propellant Feed System at Zero “g” Conditions. Lec 32: Review of Liquid Bi-propellant Rockets and Introduction to Mono-propellant Rockets. Lec 33: Introduction to Hybrid Rockets and a Simple Illustration of Combustion instability in Liquid Propellant Rockets. Week 12 : Lec 34: Principles of Electrostatic and Electromagnetic Rockets. Lec 35: Electrical Thrusters. Lec 36: Electrical and Nuclear Rockets; Advanced Propulsion.