BIRLA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY & SCIENCE, PILANI - HYDERABAD CAMPUS

First Semester 2020-2021

ME F418 Rockets and Spacecraft Propulsion
Test 1 (Regular, Open book)

Date: 19/09/2020 Weightage: 15%

Time: 09:10 – 09:40 Hrs Max. Marks: 30
Note:
 All parts of a question should be answered consecutively. Each answer should
start on a new page.
 Give pictorial representation wherever required.
 Please take a snapshot of your answer sheet with your ID card placed on the
top right corner.

1. A converging–diverging nozzle has a throat area of 0.002 m2 and an exit area of

0.008 m2. Air stagnation conditions are p0 = 1000 kPa and T0 = 500 K. Compute
the exit pressure and mass flow for (a) design condition and the exit pressure
and mass flow if (b) pb = 300 kPa and (c) pb = 900 kPa. Assume k = 1.4. where
pb is the backpressure. [15 Marks]

2. What are combustion instabilities? Discuss in detailed the different types of

instabilities and its consequences [15 marks]