Sr.

No: 233179
RRN

SANDIP UNIVERSITY, NASHIK (SOET) – 422 213

END SEMESTER EXAMINATION, (JUNE 2023)
Programme & Branch : B. Tech. Aerospace Engineering
Semester : VIII Date & Session : 28/05/2023, FN
Course Code & Name : 17YASE12, Missile Aerodynamics
Duration : 3 Hours Maximum Marks : 100
Instructions to the candidate:
• Figures to the right indicates full marks.
• Usage of non-programmable calculator is permitted.
• Draw neat sketched and diagram wherever is necessary.
• Part C is compulsory.

Answer all the questions and don’t mix-up Part-A with other answers.
Part – A (Marks: 10 x 2 = 20)
01. Elucidate the terms specific thrust and specific impulse equation of a (2) K1 CO1
Rocket
02. Define specific impulse. (2) K1 CO1
03. Write any one principal function of the injectors (2) K2 CO2
04. Why burn rate modifiers are required? (2) K1 CO2
05. What is meant by rocket separation. (2) K2 CO3
06. Define zero gravity. (2) K2 CO3
07. What is meant by jet control. (2) K2 CO4
08. How does the Pneumatic ejection work? (2) K1 CO4
09. What are re-entry bodies? (2) K4 CO5
10. How space atmosphere is different from Earth atmosphere? (2) K1 CO5

Part – B (Marks: 4 x 15 = 60)

11 (a) Describe about the different types of missiles with neat sketches. (15) K2 CO1
(OR)
(b) Illustrate briefly long-range cruise and ballistic trajectory with neat (15) K3 CO1
sketches

12 (a) Explain the all types of liquid propellant feed system. (15) K2 CO2
(OR)
(b) Explain the working principle of pyrotechnic igniters with simple sketch. (15) K3 CO2
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13 (a) Derive an expression for stage separation dynamics of a launch vehicle. (15) K4 CO4

(OR)
(b) Sketch the various forces and moments acting on a missile through (15) K3 CO4
atmosphere.

14 (a) Describe the typical space launch vehicle procedure (15) K3 CO5
(OR)
(b) Classify the space propulsion engines materials. (15) K5 CO5

Part – C (Marks: 1 x 20 = 20)

15 Explain the types of forebody, mid-body and tail section used in the (20) K4 CO3
rockets and missiles.
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Solutions

1. When we say “specific” we mean something per unit mass. So, specific thrust can be said to be
thrust per unit mass and specific impulse can be said to be the impulse per unit mass. In equation
mode:
Specific thrust
𝑇ℎ 𝑚 ∗ 𝑎
= =𝑎
𝑚 𝑚
So, specific thrust in effect becomes the acceleration.
Specific impulse
𝐼 𝐹𝑡 𝑚 ∗ 𝑎 ∗ 𝑡
= = =𝑎∗𝑡 =𝑣
𝑚 𝑚 𝑚
So, in effect the specific impulse is nothing but the velocity.
2. Specific impulse is the total impulse per unit mass. It is also equal to the thrust generated in a
vehicle per unit mass flow rate of the propellent.
𝐼 𝑇ℎ ∗ 𝑡 𝑇ℎ 𝑚̇ ∗ 𝑣
= = = =𝑣
𝑚 𝑚 𝑚̇ 𝑚̇
It is also equal to the total velocity change imparted to the vehicle after the burning of entire
propellent.

3. Injector’s job in rocket propulsion.

The injectors atomize the propellants as much as possible and spray them into the combustion
chamber in a pattern that helps the propellant to mix and burn easily. Their function is also to
provide a pressure drop to prevent pressure pulses from moving up into the feed system.
So, by itemizing, an injector has two jobs in the rocket to do, 1. Atomize and spray the propellent
in the combustion chamber and 2. Provide a pressure drop.

4. Burn rate modifiers control the burn rate of the solid propellant and help in controlling the
performance by controlling the combustion. A slow burn rate can cause too large burn out time
which is not expected; but a high burn rate may give combustion instability. To prevent such
situations, burn rate is controlled using burn rate modifiers.

5. Rocket is used in stages and sometimes to have higher thrust, more small rockets are used along
with main big rocket as a strap on. When these small rockets are completely used up, they are
separated from the main rocket and that process is called rocket separation.

6. If there is no gravitational force acting on any body in any situation then it is called zero gravity
situation. This can happen in two situations, 1. If there is no significant gravitational force acting
or 2. If the gravitational force acting is counter balanced by the inertial for or any other force.
In space in the celestial bodies are far away enough to cause any effect, or if the body is falling
freely in space under any gravitational field, then the body is said to be in zero gravity situation.
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7. On the land, vehicles are controlled using frictional effect of the tyer and ground. In air, vehicles
are controlled using control surfaces which create force using aerodynamic effect of the air. These
techniques are not possible in the case of rocket as they navigate in space where there is not
physical contact with any ground or even air is not available there. So, we use tiny jets which are
fired in appropriate manner to create small thrusts in a required direction. This gives a controlling
capability to the rocket vehicles. Such controls are called jet control.

8. In pneumatic ejection mainly there are three parts which work in coordination.
a. Motive
b. Suction
c. Discharge
In the part of motive, a high stream of air is blown, which creates a suction in the suction part and
then entire mass is blown out through discharge.

9. When the bodies from outer space enter back into the atmosphere of Earth, we call it re-entry.
This can happen to any celestial body or even artificial vehicles when they come back after the
end of designed performance.

10. Space atmosphere is much different from the Earth’s atmosphere. In Earth’s atmosphere, the
gravitational pull and air resistance can’t be ignored while navigating. Here air also behaves like
a continuous medium. While in the case of space atmosphere, continuum concept of air is not
applicable and also gravitational force is different from the Earth’s atmosphere.
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11. Part (a)

Different types of missiles.

Missiles can be launched in so many ways, from air to air, from water to air, from ground to air etc.
Based upon this criterion, missiles can be divided into eight types.
1. Surface-to-Surface Missile 5. Air-to-Surface Missile
2. Surface-to-Air Missile 6. Sea-to-Sea Missile
3. Surface (Coast)-to-Sea Missile 7. Sea-to-Surface (Coast) Missile
4. Air-to-Air Missile 8. Anti-Tank Missile

Surface-to-Surface Missile: A surface-to-surface missile is a guided projectile launched from a hand-

held, vehicle mounted, trailer mounted or fixed installation. It is often powered by a rocket motor or
sometimes fired by an explosive charge since the launch platform is stationary. Example is Agni
missiles.
Surface-to-Air Missile: A surface-to-air missile is designed for launch from the ground to destroy
aerial targets like aircrafts, helicopters and even ballistic missiles. These missiles are generally called air
defense systems as they defend any aerial attacks by the enemy. Example is Akash.
Surface (Coast)-to-Sea Missile: A surface (coast)-to-sea missile is designed to be launched from land
to ship in the sea as targets.
Air-to-Air Missile: An air-to-air missile is launched from an aircraft to destroy the enemy aircraft. The
missile flies at a speed of 4 Mach.
Air-to-Surface Missile: An air-to-surface missile is designed for launch from military aircraft and
strikes ground targets on land, at sea or both. The missiles are basically guided via laser guidance,
infrared guidance and optical guidance or via GPS signals. The type of guidance depends on the type of
target.
Sea-to-Sea Missile: A sea-to-sea missile is designed for launch from one ship to another ship.
Sea-to-Surface (Coast) Missile: A sea-to-surface missile is designed for launch from ship to land based
targets.
Anti-Tank Missile: An anti-tank missile is a guided missile primarily designed to hit and destroy
heavily-armored tanks and other armored fighting vehicles. Anti-tank missiles could be launched from
aircraft, helicopters, and tanks; and also, from shoulder mounted launcher. Example is Nag missile.
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Part (b)
Cruise missile: Cruise missile are those missiles which can generate enough life to remain air borne for
a large duration and hence they normally can have larger range compared to any similar type of rocket.
They have fins for controlling their track and course and also, they have longer fins to generate enough
lift. Although these fins have smaller span length and smaller area, they are able to generate sufficient
lift, owing to the high velocity. Most of the missiles travel with the velocity in the hypersonic range.

Tomahawk AGM-86 ALCM

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Hatf –VIII (Ra’ad) Brahmos

A cruise missile is an unmanned self-propelled (till the time of impact) guided vehicle that sustains
flight through aerodynamic lift for most of its flight path and whose primary mission is to place an
ordnance or special payload on a target. They fly within the earth’s atmosphere and use jet engine
technology. These vehicles vary greatly in their speed and ability to penetrate defenses. Cruise missiles
can be categorised by size, speed (subsonic or supersonic), range, and whether launched from land, air,
surface ship or submarine. Example are Nirbhay and Brahmos.
Ballistic missiles: Ballistic missiles are those missiles which are fired in the space and they enter the
space and follow the trajectory of some satellite. Then they are made to drop on any target while
entering the earth’s atmosphere using ballistic parameter. Since they fall from near space altitude, they
can have very large range as they can travel larger distance on the earth’s surface.

A ballistic missile is a missile that has a ballistic trajectory over most of its flight path, regardless of
whether or not it is a weapon-delivery vehicle. Ballistic missiles are categorised according to their
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range, maximum distance measured along the surface of earth’s ellipsoid from the point of launch to the
point of impact of the last element of their payload. The missile carries a huge payload. The carriage of
a deadly warhead is justified by the distance the missile travels. Ballistic missiles can be launched from
ships and land-based facilities. For example, Prithvi I, Prithvi II, Agni I, Agni II and Dhanush
ballistic missiles are currently operational in the Indian defense forces.

12. Part (a)

Liquid propellant feed system:

Basically, there are two types of liquid propellant feed system.

1. Pressure feed system, 2. Pump feed system.

Propellant is stored in the storage tank which remains inside the rocket body. A well designed
and fool proof system is required to make the propellant enter from storage tank to combustion
chamber. For this, the propellant pressure at the chamber entrance must be equal or little more
than the chamber pressure. This is achieved by the means of pumps attached to the feedlines
(pump fed) or by pressurising the storage tanks (pressure-fed). The tank pressure at the pump
is the sum of ullage pressure (𝒑𝒖 ) and the hydrostatic pressure (𝒑𝒉 ) which depends upon the
vehicle acceleration as well.
For pump-fed systems, the pumps are normally located near the combustion chamber, and the
tank pressure has to overcome the pressure losses in the feedline. The pressure at the pump
entrance has to be sufficiently high to avoid cativation. In the case of pressure-fed system, all
pressure losses and the chamber pressure have to be overcome by the fairly high tank pressure.
This way the tanks become relatively heavy.

Part (b)
Pyrotechnic igniter is used for the large solid rocket motor. Actually, the grain needs a sustained type of
high temperature to start burning throughout the surface. So, we do use the Pyrotechnic igniter which
the burning process in stages.

Pyrotechnic Igniter
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Main parts and working process (in this heat transfer takes place through radiation):
Igniter Squib:
It is a fast-burning charge. Usually, Boron composition is used for the synthesis of igniter squib. It is
ignited by the electric spark as it doesn’t need sustained type of high temperature, electric sparks are
sufficient to initiate the burning of this charge. It produces some amount of heat which is not sufficient
to start the burning of propellant surface but there is another charge put after it called Booster Charge.
The amount of heat generated by burning the igniter squib is sufficient to ignite the booster charge; so
heat from squib is supplied to the booster charge kept ahead of it. It is also known as primer charge,
glow plug or headers.
Booster Charge:
It is also Boron mixed with other fast burning compounds. It is ignited by the heat produced by the
igniter squib and produces sufficient amount of heat to heat up the Main Charge Pellets.
Main Charge Pellets:
Charge Pellets are the small ball size propellants (combination of fuel and oxidiser) which due to small
size burn very fast and need only small amount of heat which is available there. They become hot
burning coal like structure after igniting and become ready for the use of final action of ignition.
Main Charge Basket:
The charge pellets contained in the plastic basket makes the whole Main Charge Basket. Once the
charge pellets get heated up they start burning. Very soon they become hot enough to be contained
inside the basket, so the basket is burst out due to high temperature and pressure inside it. At the time of
bursting, the main charge still holds the shape of small pellets. The bursting of basket spreads the entire
charge inside it “which are now a hot coal like pellets”, throughout the free volume and burning pellets
hit the grain on the burning surface. Heat is transferred to the grain, and combustion and combustion
starts simultaneously, from whole of the surface. Hitting of the pellets on the grain surface doesn’t
produce any crack on the burning surface as pellets become very soft in burning state. Heat transfer
from igniter to the main rocket in the case of pyrotechnic igniter is mostly through radiation, because
this igniter emits highly radiative energy.

13. Part (a)

Expression for the stage separation dynamics of rockets

Part (b)
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14. Part (a)
The process of placing the satellite in a proper orbit is known as launching process. During this process,
from earth stations we can control the operation of satellite. Mainly, there are four stages in launching a
satellite.
• First Stage − The first stage of launch vehicle contains rockets and fuel for lifting the satellite
along with launch vehicle from ground.
• Second Stage − The second stage of launch vehicle contains smaller rockets. These are ignited
after completion of first stage. They have their own fuel tanks in order to send the satellite into
space.
• Third Stage − The third (upper) stage of the launch vehicle is connected to the satellite fairing.
This fairing is a metal shield, which contains the satellite and it protects the satellite.
• Fourth Stage − Satellite gets separated from the upper stage of launch vehicle, when it has
been reached to out of Earth's atmosphere. Then, the satellite will go to a “transfer orbit”. This
orbit sends the satellite higher into space.
When the satellite reached to the desired height of the orbit, its subsystems like solar panels and
communication antennas gets unfurled. Then the satellite takes its position in the orbit with other
satellites. Now, the satellite is ready to provide services to the public.

15. Part (a)

Space vehicle is made for specific types of missions and looking at the money, time and effort
involved into this, it is very much essential that very careful and critical design must be done for the
space vehicles.

Forebody: Forebody heads into the space and while launching, it also heads into the atmosphere with
high speed. This asks for a well-rounded shape to separate the shock and also a very high temperature
withstanding material is used to prevent any kind of structural damage to the body.

Mid-body: Mid body contains the fuel and other required equipment for the rocket combustion. This
asks for a well cylindrical shape and material should be strong enough to withstand the structural load.
However, high temperature capability is not that important in this case.

Tail section: in the tail section, during launch phase, there exists huge aerodynamics load which must
be withstood by the structure.