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AS301, IITM Lecture 1 (03/08/2007) : 1. Rocket Propulsion Fundamentals 1.1 Thrust From A Stationary Rocket Engine / Motor

Rocket propulsion fundamentals are explained. Thrust from a stationary rocket engine is calculated using conservation of mass and momentum equations for the control volume around the rocket nozzle. Thrust equals the rate at which mass is expelled times the exhaust velocity plus the pressure forces on the nozzle exit area. Total impulse is the integral of thrust over time and equals the mass of propellant expelled times the equivalent exhaust velocity. Specific impulse is the total impulse divided by the mass of propellant times the acceleration due to gravity, providing a measure of rocket engine performance independent of units.

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18 views

AS301, IITM Lecture 1 (03/08/2007) : 1. Rocket Propulsion Fundamentals 1.1 Thrust From A Stationary Rocket Engine / Motor

Rocket propulsion fundamentals are explained. Thrust from a stationary rocket engine is calculated using conservation of mass and momentum equations for the control volume around the rocket nozzle. Thrust equals the rate at which mass is expelled times the exhaust velocity plus the pressure forces on the nozzle exit area. Total impulse is the integral of thrust over time and equals the mass of propellant expelled times the equivalent exhaust velocity. Specific impulse is the total impulse divided by the mass of propellant times the acceleration due to gravity, providing a measure of rocket engine performance independent of units.

Uploaded by

Sunil Verma
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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AS301, IITM Lecture 1 (03/08/2007)

SECTION A
1. ROCKET PROPULSION FUNDAMENTALS
1.1 THRUST FROM A STATIONARY ROCKET ENGINE / MOTOR:
r
dS

pa

Ae
Y

pe
X

Control volume: V

Continuity Equation:
r r
dM V

dV
+

U
dS = 0
+ eU e Ae = 0

t V
dt
S
Rate of change of

Mass flux through

mass inside control

the control surfaces

volume V

m& e = eU e Ae = M& V
X-momentum equation
r

udV +
t
V

uU dS

= Fx

Rate of change of

Momentum flux through

External forces

momentum inside

the control surfaces

on the system

control volume V

r
F
=
T
+

Pd
S
= T + Ae p a Ae p e
X

Thrust:
& e U eq
T = m& eU e + Ae ( p e p a ) = m

p pa
where U eq = U e + e
m&

Ae

Ue

Total impulse ( I ):

I = T dt = m pU eq

m
units : kg , where mp = total mass of propellant expelled.
s

Specific impulse ( I sp ):

I sp =

I
mp ge

U eq
ge

m/s

units :
s
2
m/s

Here g e is the acceleration due to gravity at the earths surface. Note that the
choice of g e is arbitrary. The advantage is that in all common systems (fps, cgs,
SI etc.) the unit of specific impulse ( I sp ) is the same seconds.

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