ME512 AEROTHERMOCHEMISTRY OF ROCKET PROPULSION SYSTEMS
| Course Code: | 5690512 |
| METU Credit (Theoretical-Laboratory hours/week): | 3 (3.00 - 0.00) |
| ECTS Credit: | 8.0 |
| Department: | Mechanical Engineering |
| Language of Instruction: | English |
| Level of Study: | Graduate |
| Course Coordinator: | Prof.Dr. ABDULLAH ULAŞ |
| Offered Semester: | Fall or Spring Semesters. |
Course Objectives
(1) To understand the fundamentals of various rocket propulsion systems.
(2) To classify propulsion systems and chemical rockets.
(3) To learn various efficiencies of propulsion systems.
(4) To introduce ideal rocket equation.
(5) To introduce nozzle theory and different nozzle geometries.
(6) To provide the ability to do preliminary design and analysis of rocket motors.
(7) To introduce various advanced rocket propulsion concepts.
(8) To attract graduate students into this strategically very important national defense industry.
Course Content
Fundamentals of rocket propulsion. The ideal rocket. Rocket equation. Rocket performance parameters. Real rockets: classification of losses and efficiencies. Multi-stage rockets. Types of chemical rocket propulsion systems. Design and performance of rocket propulsion components and systems. Solid and liquid propellants. Classification of solid propellants and their ingredients. Propellant combustion mechanisms and models. Propellant burning-rate laws. Propellant grain configuration and grain design. Advanced rocket propulsion concepts.
Course Learning Outcomes
Students, who passed this course satisfactorily, will be able to:
- classify different propulsion systems, rockets, and chemical rockets.
- explain the fundamental principles of rockets and key measures of their performance.
- apply the Newton's Third Law to basic principles of rocket propulsion.
- distinguish different mass fractions of rockets and compute these mass fractions for a given rocket system.
- compute performance parameters of a rocket motor for a specific mission.
- know the basics of solid propellant rocket motors and do preliminary design of them.
- know the basics of liquid propellant rocket engines and do preliminary design of them.
- know the basics of hybrid rocket engines and do preliminary design of them.
- explain different types of solid propellants.
- explain briefly the combustion mechanisms of solid propellants.
- explain the characteristics of different solid propellant grain geometries.
- explain the characteristics of different nozzle shapes and design a specific nozzle geometry for a specific mission.
- examine advanced/exotic/future rocket technologies.