Design
Presentation
-- Team Wolfpack --
Contents
1. Introduction
2. Meeting the Mission Parameters
3. Rejected Models
4. Final Design of the Rocket
5. Design Justification
6. Problems while designing the Rocket
7. Results
Introduction
The “Team Wolfpack” is a solo participant entry in the “Synodic Rocket Design Challenge” which has
participated in a rocket design competition for the first time and it does not have any prior
experience in any such event.
The rocket design resembles the DRDO Anti-Satellite missile, also called as Mission Shakti. It has
a narrower body tube in the front to make it aerodynamic and create less drag. The body diameter
was then expanded to make room for the engine that I had decided to use. Thus, the transition
between the two body tubes surface had to be as smooth as possible to reduce drag and friction
force between the transition and the air.
The initial research had hinted to keep the weight and the dimensions as small as they could to
increase apogee, so that was a major factor in deciding what materials and dimensions that were
going to be used.
Meeting the Mission Requirements
Parameter Value mentioned in the Rulebook Values of the designed Rocket
Apogee 1200 metres (Minimum) 1247 metres
Maximum Rocket Weight 1750 grams 832 grams
Maximum Length 100 centimetres 47.7 centimetres
Maximum Diameter 12 centimetres 4 centimetres
Total Impulse 320 N-sec 160 N-sec
Maximum Velocity 200 m/s 160 m/s
Payload 250 grams (Minimum) 325 grams
Rejected Models
● While I was carrying out design iterations and the first design I made was a simple straight
Rocket with no transitions. I made that to test the basics of Rocket Design. The Apogee was
decent but the speed was higher than what was stated in the Rulebook. Also the Design was
not very innovative, so i had scrapped it.
● In the Second Design I tried to replicate the inside if a bullet, i.e. a pointy nose cone a
transition that would look like shoulder and connected over a body tube which was connected
to the nose cone. The design had a lot going on in terms of manufacturing it and the results
which were obtained from it, were not satisfactory.
● In the Third Design, I tried to design the Rocket like GSLV Mark III, with an increased diameter
on the nose cone, thin Middle section and increased diameter for the Engine Bay. This design
according to the values I had assumed, didn't give a satisfactory Apogee, thus I also decided
not to pursue it further.
Final Design of the Rocket
Sectional 2D view of the Rocket Back view
3D Unfinished view of the Rocket
Design Justification
● Nose cone and Transition between the Payload Bay and Recovery Bay :-
The nose cone was designed to be aerodynamic and to pierce the air more effectively due to
its pointy shape. They are made up of ‘Fibreglass’ which can be easily moulded into any
shape.
● Body Tube and Motor Mount :-
A hollow PVC pipe is used as a Body tube as it is easily accessible in a large range of
dimensions.
● Boat End :-
The Boat end is made up of Aluminium for better handling of the exhaust heat.
● Fins :-
Fins used are elliptical fins with a cantonment angle of 5°. Elliptical wings are usually used
where Lift needs to be increased. They are usually very thin and thus Carbon Fiber is used as
the material for this part.
Problems while designing the Rocket
1. Dimensions of the Rocket
While designing the Rocket, I first started with the maximum dimensions mentioned in
the problem statement. But then I saw the dimensions of the motor and decided to reduce
everything according to that. The initial length was kept at 92 centimetre. This resulted in
increase in weight and reduction of apogee. Thus the length was reduced to the bare
minimum that was needed. The exact ratio of nose cone length, body tube length an
optimal design were not known thus, the initial planning and research took a bit longer
than expected.
2. Designing the fins
Also, designing the fins created an interesting challenge. The use of trapezoidal fins
increased the apogee but not close to the target which was 1200 meters. The Freeform
Fins were shaped in sort of a triangular or a delta profile, but that also did not reach near
the target. Thus, the ‘Elliptical Fins were used.
Results
Velocity off Rodd 16.2 m/s
Apogee 1244 m
Velocity at Deployment 18.4 m/s
Optimum Delay 12.9 s
Maximum Velocity 159 m/s
Maximum acceleration 137 m/s^(2)
Time to Apogee 15.9 s
Flight Time 142 s
Ground hit velocity 9.61 m/s
Thus, Team Wolfpack submitted a design that met all the basic requirements that were required
in the Problem Statement.
Thank You !
