Design and optimization of variable thrust hybrid rocket motors for sounding rockets

Besides safety and low-cost,the start/shutdown/restarting and throttling ability are the other two significant advantages of hy-brid rocket motors(HRMs) compared with liquid and solid ones.In this study,a two-stage variable thrust and non-toxic 98%HP/HTPB hybrid rocket motor(VTHRM) is designed and applied in a sounding rocket,and the design parameters of the motor are analyzed and optimized.A computational program is developed to design the motor system structure,to predict the interior ballistics and the ballistic trajectory.A star grain and a wheel grain are compared.The design of experiment(DOE),variance analysis and the main effect analysis are employed to investigate the influence of the main design parameters on mo-tor performance.The multidiscipline feasible(MDF) approach is applied to establish the optimization procedure after analyz-ing the system design structure matrix.A modified differential evolution algorithm is employed to maximize the load mass.The results indicate that the wheel grain could obtain a larger load mass and a lower length to diameter ratio,and that throttling markedly meliorates the motor and rocket performance.The conclusions drawn from the analysis and optimization could pro-vide instructive guide and theoretical basis for engineering designs.

Experimental and Theoretical Research Review of Hybrid Rocket Motor Techniques and Applications

A hybrid rocket motor combines components from both solid fuel and liquid fuel rocket motors. The fuel itself is a solid grain, (often paraffin or hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene, known as HTPB) while the oxidizing agent is liquid (often hydrogen peroxide or liquid oxygen). These components are combined in the fuel chamber which doubles as the combustion chamber for the hybrid motor. This review looks at the advances in techniques that have taken place in the development of these motors since 1995. Methods of testing the thrust from rocket motors and of measuring the rocket plume spectroscopically for combustion reaction products have been developed. These assessments allow researchers to more completely understand the effects of additives and physical changes in design, in terms of regression rates and thrust developed. Hybrid rocket motors have been used or tested in many areas of rocketry, including tactical rockets and large launch vehicles. Several additives have shown significant improvements in regression rates and thrust, including Guanidinium azotetrazolate (GAT), and various Aluminum alloys. The most recent discoveries have come from research into nano-particle additives. The nano-particles have been shown to provide enhancements to many parameters of hybrid rocket function, and research into specific areas continues in the sub-field of nano-additives for fuel grains.

Effect of Variable Selection on Multidisciplinary Design Optimization:a Flight Vehicle Example

Different multidisciplinary design optimization （MDO） problems are formulated and compared. Two MDO formulations are applied to a sounding rocket in order to optimize the performance of the rocket. In the MDO of the referred vehicle, three disciplines have been considered, which are trajectory, propulsion and aerodynamics. A special design structure matrix is developed to assist data exchange between disciplines. This design process uses response surface method （RSM） for multidisciplinary optimization of the rocket. The RSM is applied to the design in two categories： the propulsion model and the system level. In the propulsion model, RSM determines an approximate mathematical model of the engine output parameters as a function of design variables. In the system level, RSM fits a surface of objective function versus design variables. In the first MDO problem formulation, two design variables are selected to form propulsion discipline. In the second one, three new design variables from geometry are added and finally, an optimization method is applied to the response surface in the system level in order to find the best result. Application of the first developed multidisciplinary design optimization procedure increased accessible altitude （performance index） of the referred sounding rocket by twenty five percents and the second one twenty nine.

Prospect of Near-Space Exploration and Scientific Experiment Carrier Platform Demand

It is an important scientific research activity in China to carry out near-space exploration and scientific experiments via aerospace carriers.Early near-space exploration projects mainly used aircraft,balloons,sounding rockets and Earth satellites to carry out space environment exploration.With the development of China’s space science and technology,microgravity science has become a frontier science that has developed rapidly in the past 20 years.With the continuous progress of national space science and technology,the demand for near-space exploration and scientific experiments is increasing year by year.In the next 2 to 3 years,many advanced science activities and the associated technologies need to conduct corresponding experimental research work.This paper mainly analyzes the significance of scientific research and the ways to realize near-space exploration at home and abroad,and analyzes the directions and innovations that can be carried out in the future.