Rocket Aerodynamics and Stability

By Jan-Erik Rnningen
Norwegian Rocket Technology
[ contact@rocketconsult.no ]
[ www.rocketconsult.no ]

Version: 1.40 2008

Rocket Flight Video
Contents
Aerodynamics
Mach Definition
Atmosphere (2)
Shock Waves (2)
Air Flow around Objects (2)
CD Values for Various Nose Designs
CD vs. Mach
Aerodynamic Forces
Pressure Distribution Around a Rocket
Center of Pressure
Determine Center of Pressure
Rocket Drag Equation
Dynamic Load
Induced Drag
Drag Reducing Feature
QUEST: What Rocket Shape have Highest Drag?

Stability
Axis Definition
Center-of-Gravity
The Weathercock Principle
Weather Cocking of a Rocket
Fin Stabilization
Spin Stabilization (2)
Static Margin
Active Stability
Earth Atmosphere (1)
Earth Atmosphere (2)

Launching a sounding rocket at different seasons can give up to 5% variation in performance.

Earth Atmosphere (3)
Mach Definition

v
Mach [ ]
Speed
Hastighet

R T
Lokal _ lydhastigh
Speed of Sound et

R = Gas constant unique for the gas) [J / Kg-K]

286 J/kg-K for Air

T = Temperature [K]

= specific heat capacity ratio [-] ( 1.44 for air)

M < 1 : Subsonic
M 0.9 - 1.1 : Transonic or sonic (M = 1)
M > 1 : Supersonic
M > 5 : Hypersonic
Shock Waves (1)

Shadowfax picture of a
supersonic bullet

F-18 at supersonic flight

Shock Waves (2)
What Affects Aerodynamic Drag?
The Object
Size
Shape
Motion
Inclination
Speed
Atmosphere
Mass
Compressibility
Viscosity
Air Flow Around Objects

Plate - Induce large resistance Cylindrical Rod - Lower resistance

Symmetrical wing profile (Alpha = 0 ) - Least resistance

Air Flow Around Objects (2)

Cd: 0.37

Almost factor 30 better than the flat plate!

Cd: 0.31
CD Values for Various Nose Designs

Cd for different nose design (subsonic velocity) and zero alpha:

Cd: <0.05 >0.01 0.20 0.20 0.34 0.90 1.00

4:1 3:1 1:1

CD vs. Mach
1.0

0.9

0.8

0.7

Cd
0.6

0.5

0.4

0.3
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Mach
Mach
Pressure Distribution Around a
Rocket

v
Aerodynamic Forces
V
L = Lift, net force normal to air flow
D = Drag, net force parallell to air flow

n
(h) n

L
C.G
Faero
n
+
C.P
D
G
F Aero p n A p n dA
Surface

Pressure variation
Center of Pressure

CP
x p( x ) dx

p( x ) dx

Taken from ref.: http://exploration.grc.nasa.gov/education/rocket/cp.html

Determine Center of Pressure

Taken from ref.: http://exploration.grc.nasa.gov/education/rocket/rktcp.html

 Rocket Drag Equation

v2
D CD ( M , ) A [N ]
2
Dynamic Pressure

CD : Drag coefficient. Contains all complex dependencies like air compressibility, viscosity
body shape and angle-of-attack.

A : Reference area, typically the base diameter of the nose. Different A, affect the value of C D.

: Density of the atmosphere of consideration (typically 1.23kg/m 3 for air at sea-level).

v : Rocket speed
Dynamic Load
Student Rocket:

D=70mm0.07m
D2
A 0.00385m 2
Q 12 (h ) v 2 [ Pa ] 4
Fmax Qmax A 550000 0.00385 2117 .5 N 216.0kg

D
 Induced Drag
A unsymmetrical fin / wing in an airflow will have excess pressure on
the face with least surface (often on the side facing down) and low
Drag due to Lift pressure on the opposite face with largest surface. The pressure
Lift due
difference is the lift.
to Lift
Lift
Center of Po > Pu Positive Lift
Mass
Chord Po

Aft vortex

Airflow

A symmetrical wing/fin will

generate lift when | > 0 | Pu Vortex center
Drag Reducing Feature

Larger aft surfaceomrde

Strre undertrykk
Pluft < Pa
Rocket
Rakett utenwith sharp end
aerodynamisk avslutning

Smaller
Mindreaft surface omrde
undertrykk
7-9 Pluft < Pa

Rakett
Rocket medconical
with boat-tail
end (Boat-Tail)
QUEST: What Rocket Shape have
Highest Drag?

d
D

d
D

C
Axis Definition
Center of Gravity
The Weathercock Principle

C.G

No Rotation

C.G

No Rotation

C.G C.P

Rotation about C.G since C.P offset of the C.G location

Spin Stabilization (1)
Spin Frequency: 2000Hz
L/D : max. 4 L

D v

Spin Frequency: 4Hz

L/D : > 4
L v

D
G
Spin Stabilization (2)

Roll Rate Should Have Positive Slope

When Crossing Pitch Frequency

NSR Min Roll Rate at Burnout = 2.5 Hz

Roll Rate = 3.1 Hz

Roll Rate = 2.5 Hz

Roll Rate = 1.9 Hz

Pitch
 Active Stability

C.G C.P

Naturally dynamic unstable, but maintained stable due to an automatic attitude system. Trajectory and stability can
be maintained by moving servo controlled fins or by use of side thrusters. A thrust vectoring system (TVC) can
also be used. A TVC system is a device that can change the thrust vector by changing the orientation of
the nozzle or by deflecting the plume.

C.G C.P

Fl F
a
Thrust Vector Control System

IRIS-T Air-To-Air Jet Vane TVC System

Static Margin
Static Margin vs. Tim e
SCA2005 Rocket

11

10

9
SM = (XCG - XCP) / dref
Static Margin [-]

5
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80
Tim e [s]
Stable Rocket Flight?
Quest:

New Mass
Ny masse

C.P Ny C.G C.G

C.G C.P Ny C.P

Aerodynamisk
Unstabel Rocketustabil rakett
Configuration A)Alt.1
Masse lagt
More til nesen
mass in front B) Finne
Alt.2 ant. ellerFin
Increase areal
Areakes