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
Mach

Speed
Hastighet
Lokal
_ lydhastigh
Speed
of Sound et

v
[ ]
R T

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
M
M
M

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

Motion

Size
Shape
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
4:1

>0.01

0.20

0.20

0.34

3:1

1:1

0.90

1.00

CD vs. Mach
1.0

0.9

0.8

0.7

Cd
0.6

0.5

0.4

0.3
0

Mach

Mach

Pressure Distribution Around a

Rocket

Aerodynamic Forces
V

L = Lift, net force normal to air flow

D = Drag, net force parallell to air flow
n

(h)

C.G

Faero

+
D

C.P
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.

: 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).

: Rocket speed

Dynamic Load
Student Rocket:
D=70mm0.07m

Q 12 (h ) v 2 [ Pa ]

D2
0.00385m 2
4
Fmax Qmax A 550000 0.00385 2117 .5 N 216.0kg
A

Induced Drag
Lift due
to Lift

Drag due to Lift

Lift

Center of
Mass
Chord

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
pressure on the opposite face with largest surface. The pressure
difference is the lift.
Po > Pu Positive Lift
Po
Aft vortex

Airflow
A symmetrical wing/fin will
generate lift when | > 0 |

Pu

Vortex center

Drag Reducing Feature

Larger
aft surfaceomrde
Strre undertrykk
Rocket
sharp end
Rakett
utenwith
aerodynamisk
avslutning

Pluft < Pa

Smaller
surface omrde
Mindreaft
undertrykk
7-9

Pluft < Pa

Rakett
medconical
boat-tail
Rocket
with
end (Boat-Tail)

QUEST: What Rocket Shape have

Highest Drag?
D
A
d

B
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

G
Spin Frequency: 4Hz
L/D : > 4
L

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

Static Margin [-]

SM = (XCG - XCP) / dref

5
0

10

20

30

40
Tim e [s]

50

60

70

80

Stable Rocket Flight?

Quest:
New
Mass
Ny masse

C.P

Ny C.G

C.G

C.G

C.P

Ny C.P

Unstabel Rocketustabil
Configuration
Aerodynamisk
rakett

More
mass
in front
A)Alt.1
Masse
lagt
til nesen

Alt.2 ant.
Increase
Areakes
B) Finne
ellerFin
areal