Course Plan Presentation
By
Dr. Manu B V
Assistant Professor
Acharya Institute of Technology
Course Title: ROCKETS & MISSILES
Course Code: BAE515B
Dept of AE
Course Type: Elective (Theory)
Semester: 05
Year: 3
Contact Hours/ week : L-T-P : 3:0:0
Solid Rocket Motor (SRM)
In solid propellant rocket motors and the word "motor" is as common to solid rockets as the
word "engine" is to liquid rockets.
propellant is in solid state
propellant is contained and
stored directly in the
combustion chamber
no moving parts
Solid Rocket Motor (SRM)
SRM parts
The pressure vessel enclosing the propellant charge is referred to as the motor case.
The motor case is generally bolted to the nozzle assembly through a fitting referred to as a
polar boss
SRM parts
The motor case generally has a cylindrical extension called the thrust skirt, which enables the motor to
be attached to the upper stage or payload of the rocket. Motors may contain either zero, one, or two
skirts (forward and aft) depending on the application.
Burning within the chamber is initiated by the igniter
Internal insulation shields the motor case from hot propellant gases.
Liner is the thin layer of material, typically an elastomer, that acts as an adhesive and thermal barrier
between the propellant and the motor case insulation. It improves bonding strength, enhances
insulation, and can also serve as a burning inhibitor during operation.
The nozzle assembly converts the thermal energy of propellant gases to thrust. they have the
capability to gimbal in order to provide thrust vector control.
The mass of propellant is generally called a propellant grain to highlight the fact that it is cast into a
mold of specified geometry.
Types of ignitors for SRM: Flip class
Explain types: pyrotechnic igniters and pyrogen igniters.
Explain what is ignitors, how ignition is done Ignition Processes in Solid Propellant Rockets; Local Ignition and Flame Spread
Explain different mounting configurations Safeguard against Motor Misfires, or Inadvertent Motor Ignition
Reference: Rocket propulsion by K Ramamurthy
Flip class
Student name: Chetan
Date: 21/08/2025
Nozzles for Solid Propellant Motor
Explain the working principle, types Explain design and construction.
Heat Absorption and Nozzle Materials
Reference: Rocket propulsion by K Ramamurthy
Rocket propulsion elements by G. P. Sutton
Flip class
Student name: Pooja
Date: 21/08/2025
Applications
List and explain at least 6 applications of solid rocket motor.
Include videos or animation for each applications
Flip class
Student name: Abhishek N
Date: 26/08/2025
Propellant Ingredients and types
1) First explain the all the ingredients of the solid propellants with at least 4 examples
2) Later explain the types of propellants in detail with examples (4 examples) advantages and
disadvantages. Reference: Rocket propulsion by K Ramamurthy
Rocket propulsion elements by G. P. Sutton,
Ingredients rocket-propulsion by stephen-d.-heister-william-e.-anderson-timothee-l.-
pourpoint-r.-joseph-cassady-
Fuels
Oxidizers
Binders Types
Burning-Rate Modifiers Double-base (DB)
Plasticizers
Composite propellants
Curing Agents or Crosslinkers
Energetic Binders and Plasticizers
Organic Oxidizers or Explosives Types
Additives Gas Generator Propellants
Flip class Smokeless or Low-Smoke Propellant
Student name: Amrutha N Igniter Propellants
Date: 25/08/2025
Propellant Grain and Grain
Configuration
The grain is the shaped mass of processed solid propellant inside the rocket motor. The propellant
material and geometrical configuration of the grain determine the motor performance characteristics.
The propellant grain is a cast, molded, or extruded body
Casting involves pouring a liquid or slurry into a mold, where it solidifies.
Molding is a similar process as casting, but it often involves applying pressure to the mixture within the
mold
Extrusion forces a solid or semi-solid propellant through a die to create a specific shape
There are two methods of holding the grain in the case
Cartridge-loaded or freestanding grains are manufactured separately from the case (by extrusion or by
casting into a cylindrical mold or cartridge) and then loaded into or assembled into the case.
In case-bonded grains the case is used as a mold and the propellant is cast directly into the case and is
bonded to the case or case insulation.
Propellant Grain and Grain
Configuration
Free-standing grains can more easily be replaced if the case-bonded grains give a somewhat better performance, a
propellant grain has aged excessively. little less inert mass (no holding device, support pads, and
used in some small tactical missiles and a few medium-sized less insulation), a better volumetric loading fraction.
motors. used in larger motors
They often have a lower cost and are easier to inspect. often somewhat more difficult and expensive to
manufacture.
Burning rate
The burning surface of a propellant grain recedes in a direction essentially perpendicular to the surface. The rate
of regression, usually expressed in cm/ sec, mm/sec, or in./sec, is the burning rate r.
Burning rate
The burning rate of propellant in a motor is a function of many parameters, and at any instant governs the mass
flow rate of hot gas generated and flowing from the motor
Here Ab is the burning area of the propellant grain, r the burning rate, and ρb the solid propellant density prior to
motor start.
a is an empirical constant also known as the temperature coefficient, n is burning rate exponent sometimes called
the combustion index.
Burning rate Time zero is actually when the firing voltage is applied to the ignitor.
Visible exhaust gas will actually come out of the rocket
nozzle for a period longer than the action time, but the
effluent mass flow ahead and behind the action time is
actually very small.
Burning rate: grain configurations
1) First explain the following terms used in solid propellant grain and its combustion process with
diagrams or videos
2) Later explain the thrust/pressure curve for different grain shapes (few grain shapes are given
in next slide and include further more shapes) Include videos or animation for each shapes
Configuration Progressive Burning
Perforation Regressive Burning
Neutral Burning Sliver
Burning Time, or Effective Burning Time
Action Time
Deflagration Limit
Inhibitor
Liner
Internal Insulator
Web Thickness Flip class
Web Fraction Student name: R Rohit
Volumetric Loading Fraction Date: 26/08/2025
Burning rate: grain configurations
Flip class
Student name: R Rohit
Date: 26/08/2025
Space Shuttle SRB
Describe the space shuttle, parts, functions, engines. Elaborate details of solid rocket motor used in space shuttle
Flip class
Student name: Rithika P C
Date: 28/08/2025
Arienne 6 SRB
Describe the Arienne 6, parts, functions, engines. Elaborate details of solid rocket motor used in Arienne 6
Flip class
Student name: Pooja G
Date: 28/08/2025
Advantages and disadvantages
List and explain any 8 to 10 advantages and disadvantages of solid propellants. Include video/animation wherever
applicable
Flip class
Student name: Keerthana R
Date: 01/09/2025
Materials for Casing, Liners,
Insulators and Inhibitors
Explain the what are casing, liners insulators and inhibitors
Explain casing material and construction in detail (metal case and Filament-reinforced cases).
Explain materials used for liners insulators, and inhibitors in brief
Flip class
Student name: Bushra Parveen
Date: 01/09/2025
Liquid Rocket Engine (LRE)
monopropellant
Pump-fed engine
Pressure-fed engine
Bipropellant LRE
This video shows the firing of the SpaceX Raptor engine, which is a cryogenic rocket engine powered by a
combination of liquid methane and liquid oxygen. Towards the end of the video, there is a CFD simulation illustrating
the plume generated by the engine and the temperatures it can reach during operation.
Monopropellant LRE
Engine that decomposes hydrogen peroxide
(H₂O₂) for a Kick stage propulsion system (A
kick stage is a small, self-contained propulsion
system, often using multiple restarts).
The exhaust is primarily composed of water
vapor (H₂O) and oxygen (O₂), which are
colorless gases, hence the "invisible" nature
of the exhaust
Hypergolic LRE
An igniter running on HTP (High Test Peroxide)
and RP-1 is a bipropellant rocket engine
system where HTP serves as the oxidizer and
RP-1 is the fuel.
This combination creates a hypergolic
propellant that self-ignites on contact,
simplifying engine design and allowing for
repeated restarts by eliminating the need for
an external ignition source.
High-test peroxide (HTP) is a highly
concentrated (85 to 98%) solution of
hydrogen peroxide, with the remainder
consisting predominantly of water
Liquid propellants
LIQUID OXIDIZERS
Many different types of storable and cryogenic liquid oxidizer have been used.
Liquid Oxygen (02)
Liquid oxygen, often abbreviated as LOX, boils at 90 K at atmospheric pressure; at these conditions it
has a specific gravity of 1.14 and a heat of vaporization of 213 kJ/kg. It is widely used as an oxidizer
and burns with a bright white-yellow flame with most hydrocarbon fuels. It has been used in
combination with alcohols, jet fuels (kerosene-type), gasoline, and hydrogen.
Handling and storage are safe when contact materials are clean. Liquid oxygen is a noncorrosive and
nontoxic liquid and will not cause the deterioration of clean container walls. When in prolonged
contact with human skin, the cryogenic propellant causes severe burns.
Because liquid oxygen evaporates rapidly, it cannot be stored readily for any great length of time.
It is necessary to insulate all lines, tanks, valves, and so on, that contain liquid oxygen in order to
reduce the evaporation loss.
External drainage provisions have to be made on all liquid oxygen tanks and lines to eliminate the
water that condenses on the walls.
Hydrogen Peroxide (H202)
In rocket application, hydrogen peroxide has been used in a highly concentrated form of 70 to 99%; the
remainder is mostly water. Commercial peroxide is approximately 30% concentrated.
In the combustion chamber, the propellant decomposes according to the following chemical reaction, forming
superheated steam and gaseous oxygen
H202 is hypergolic with hydrazine and will burn well with kerosene.
The theoretical specific impulse of 90% hydrogen peroxide is 154 sec, when used as a monopropellant with a
solid catalyst bed.
Concentrated peroxide causes severe burns when in contact with human skin and may ignite and cause fires
when in contact with wood, oils, and many other organic materials.
H202 will often decompose at a slow rate during storage and gas will bubble out of the liquid. Contaminated
liquid peroxide must be disposed of before it reaches a danger point of about 448 K, when an explosion usually
occurs.
Nitric Acid (HNO3)
The most common type, red fuming nitric acid (RFNA), consists of concentrated nitric acid
(HNO3) that contains between 5 and 20% dissolved nitrogen dioxide. The evaporating red-
brown fumes are exceedingly annoying and poisonous.
Second type is the concentrated nitric acid (also called white fuming nitric acid)
Nitric acid is highly corrosive. Only certain types of stainless steel, gold, and a few other
materials are satisfactory as storage containers or pipeline materials.
Nitric acid has been used with gasoline, various amines, hydrazine, dimethylhydrazine, and
alcohols.
It ignites spontaneously with hydrazine, furfuryl alcohol, aniline, and other amines.
The specific gravity of nitric acid varies from 1.5 to 1.6, depending on the percentages of nitric
oxide, water, and impurities.
Nitrogen Tetroxide (N204)
This is a high-density yellow-brown liquid (specific gravity of 1.44).
It is only mildly corrosive when pure, but forms strong acids when moist or allowed to mix
with water.
It is hypergolic with many fuels and can cause spontaneous ignition with many common
materials, such as paper, leather, and wood. The fumes are reddish brown and are extremely
toxic.
Nitrogen tetroxide is a storable propellant oxidizer and is used together with a fuel mixture
consisting of hydrazine and unsymmetrical dimethylhydrazine.
Liquid fuels
Explain the characteristics of below liquid fuels
Hydrocarbon Fuels
Liquid Hydrogen (H2)
Hydrazine (N2H4)
Unsymmetrical Dimethylhydrazine [(CH3)2NNH2]
Monomethylhydrazine (CH3NHNH2)
Flip class
Student name: Annie robin
Date: 02/09/2025
Feed system
Liquid fuel and liquid oxidizer need to be supplied to the combustion chamber at specified flow rates from the
storage tanks. For this, either pumps are used or the liquid fuel and oxidizer in the tanks are pressurized by a high-
pressure gas source and forced into the combustion chamber.
GAS PRESSURE FEED SYSTEMS
One of the simplest and most common means of pressurizing the propellants is to force them out of their
respective tanks by displacing them with high-pressure gas.
total impulse or the mass of propellant is relatively low, the chamber pressure is low, the engine thrust-to-
weight ratio is low .
the heavy-walled tanks for the propellant and the pressurizing gas usually constitute the major inert mass of the
engine system.
PUMP FEED SYSTEMS
A pump-feed system in a liquid rocket uses pumps, driven by either a gas turbine or an electric motor, to pressurize
and deliver propellants from low-pressure tanks to a high-pressure combustion chamber.
In a pump feed systems the propellant tank pressures are much lower and thus the tank masses are much lower.
the total impulse is large and the chamber pressure is higher.
GAS PRESSURE FEED SYSTEMS
Gas at ambient temperature, contained in a gas bottle at high pressure, is supplied to the fuel and oxidizer tanks
through a pressure regulator to expel propellants from the tanks: Regulated Cold Gas Pressurization
In some cases, the gas or vapour column above the
liquid surface in the tank, known as ullage volume, is
directly pressurized: blow-down mode of
pressurization
In the blow down mode, gas pressure in the
propellant tank progressively decreases as the
liquid fuel or oxidizer is expelled from the tank.
The extra volume of gas above the propellant in sealed
tanks is called ullage.
Part of the propellants from the fuel and oxidizer tanks
is diverted to the gas generator, where hot gases are
generated and these hot gases are expanded in the
turbine. The turbine drives the pumps.
Propellants: Vapour from cooling
Propellants: Liquids from pumps Propellants: Liquids from pumps
Expansion/combustion: Main nozzle
Expansion: auxiliary nozzle Expansion: Main nozzle
Propellant tanks
In liquid bipropellant rocket engine systems propellants are stored in one or more oxidizer
tanks and one or more fuel tanks.
Monopropellant rocket engine systems have, only one set of propellant tanks.
There are also one or more high-pressure gas tanks, the gas being used to pressurize the
propellant tanks.
Tanks can be arranged in a variety of ways, and the tank design can be used to exercise some
control over the change in the location of the vehicle’s center of gravity.
The expulsion efficiency of a tank and/or propellant piping system is the amount of propellant
expelled or available divided by the total amount of propellant initially present.
This residual propellant is not available for combustion and must be treated as inert mass.
The optimum shape of a propellant tank is spherical, because for a given volume it results in a
tank with the least weight. But mostly used are cylindrical with half ellipses at the ends.
Cryogenic propellants cool the tank wall temperature far below the ambient air temperature.
This causes condensation of moisture on the outside of the tank and usually also formation of
ice during the period prior to launch
Propellant tanks
Mass, CG
Cryogenic
Microgravity
Sloshing
Propellant slosh
Injectors Solid fuel pyrolysis/combustion process.
Injectors
The functions of the injector are similar to those of a carburetor of an
internal combustion engine.
The injector has to introduce and meter the flow of liquid propellants to
the combustion chamber, cause the liquids to be broken up into small
droplets (a process called atomization).
Also distribute and mix the propellants in such a manner that a correctly
proportioned mixture of fuel and oxidizer will result, with uniform
propellant mass flow and composition over the chamber cross section.
atomization
Atomization of a Swirled
Collapsed liquid sheet Diverging liquid spray Liquid sheet
Injectors
The energy for the atomization is either derived from pressure or from a high-velocity gas flow and the injectors
are accordingly classified as pressure atomizing and gas-assist injectors.
pressure atomizing injectors
In the pressure atomizing injectors, liquid fuel and oxidizer are supplied at high pressure to the injector to form
high velocity liquid jets or sheets called showerhead
In some injectors, high-velocity liquid jets are made to impinge on each other and form liquid sheets, which then
break up into fine droplets. These are known as impinging injectors.
These could comprise two jets of liquid impinging on each other (called doublet), three jets of impinging liquid
(triplet) or four jets (quadruplet) and so on.
Injectors
Impinging Jet Injectors
Here the liquid jets formed in the sharp-edged orifices are made to impinge one or the other to generate
droplets by impact.
Doublet, triplet, quadruplet and pentad impinging jets are formed respectively by the impingement of two,
three, four or five jets of liquid at a point.
Doublet: In the case of a doublet, the impact of two liquid jets creates a region of high pressure at the point of
impact. A thin liquid sheet is formed during the impact and the sheet spreads out from the high pressure zone in a
plane at right angles to the plane of the jets. The thin liquid sheet breaks up into small droplets and is called spray
fan.
like on like or fuel on fuel or
oxidizer on oxidizer Unlike configuration
Injectors
Impinging Jet Injectors
Injectors
Gas assisted Injectors
Low temperature boiling fuels, such as liquid hydrogen reach the injector in the gas phase.
The gases, if introduced at high velocities into the injector, could bring about atomization of liquid jets and liquid
sheets by shear.
Here, the liquid oxygen flows through the central orifice at low velocities, the typical velocities being about 20 to
30 m/s.
Gaseous hydrogen is admitted coaxially around the liquid oxygen jet at high velocities of about 200-300 m/s.
The gas flow breaks up the liquid oxygen jet into droplets.
Cooling techniques in rockets
The flow of high temperature gases around 3000 K or higher in the thrust chamber heats up the
walls to unacceptable levels. Most of the structural materials either melt or do not retain their
strength at these high temperatures. The walls of the thrust chamber are therefore cooled, using
one or more of the following methods:
(i) Film Cooling and Barrier Cooling
(ii) Regenerative Cooling
(iii) Ablation Cooling
(iv) Transpiration Cooling
(v) Radiation Cooling
(vi) Heat Sink Cooling
Explain the above cooling techniques with diagrams and videos
Flip class
Student name: Tanisha D Singh
Date: 04/09/2025
Propellant hammer
Geysering effect
Explain what are propellant hammer effect and geysering effect with videos/ animations. Also explain how they
effect rocket operation
Flip class
Student name: suraj Mahato
Date: 15/09/2025
Advantages and disadvantages
List and explain any 8 to 10 advantages and disadvantages of liquid propellants. Include video/animation wherever
applicable
Flip class
Student name: Hemashree T A
Date: 11/09/2025
Space Shuttle main engine
Describe the space shuttle engines. Elaborate details of main liquid engine used in space shuttle
Flip class
Student name: Subhiksha
Date: 11/09/2025