College
College of Engineering and Polymer Science
Date of Last Revision
2024-09-19 12:07:29
Major
Chemical Engineering
Honors Course
CHEE 497
Number of Credits
3
Degree Name
Bachelor of Science
Date of Expected Graduation
Spring 2024
Abstract
This project utilizes mechanical and chemical principles to characterize propellant grains and to manufacture a custom nozzle to create experimental Solid Rocket Motors (SRMs) with a propellant called Angry Listerine. For the propellant grains, one major non-chemical factor that determines its thrust performance is the grain geometry, or the core of the grains for which hot gases flow through the propellant and out of the nozzle to further react with exposed chemical surfaces. The two kinds of grain geometries analyzed and tested in this report are called MoonBurner, an offset circular core, and Finocyl, a gear-shaped core. The nozzle for this project is a three-part assembly, utilizing an outer aluminum carrier to hold the middle phenolic ablative layer with a graphite insert in the center. The main purpose of using three materials instead of one large graphite piece is the issue of cost and machining graphite at larger scales of 6” to 8” diameters. Testing at smaller scales for both grain geometry and nozzle carrier provides the groundwork and testing analysis for future SRMs up to the 8” scale, which will be utilized by the Akronauts Rocket Design Team to send a student-built rocket to the Kármán Line. Grain geometry and nozzle carrier were tested individually first to ensure desired results, and a future goal of this project is to combine the two ideas into one SRM to be launched in a high-powered rocket.
Research Sponsor
Dr. Manigandan Kannan
First Reader
Sarah Robinson
Second Reader
Charles Campbell
Honors Faculty Advisor
Dr. Donald Visco
Proprietary and/or Confidential Information
No
Recommended Citation
Bettes, Johnathan and Fuller, Andrew, "Design of an Experimental Solid Rocket Motor" (2024). Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects. 1877.
https://ideaexchange.uakron.edu/honors_research_projects/1877
Included in
Computer-Aided Engineering and Design Commons, Heat Transfer, Combustion Commons, Other Chemical Engineering Commons, Propulsion and Power Commons