Aerospace Propulsion I Fluid Mechanics I and II Thermal Engineering Mechanics applied to Aerospace Engineering Chemical basis of Engineering Combustion

The goal of this course is that the student acquires knowledge about rocket engines and their application to aerospace propulsion. Competences and learning results: - Applied knowledge of: theory of propulsion; jet propulsion performances; propulsion systems engineering. - Adequate and applied engineering knowledge of: methods of calculation and development for propulsion systems; regulation and control of propulsion systems; experimental techniques, equipment and measurement instruments for the specific discipline; fuels and lubricants used in aircraft engines and automotive engines; numerical simulation of the most significant physical-mathematical processes; systems maintenance and certification of aerospace engines. - Basic knowledge of combustion processes, the laws that govern them and propulsion applications. - Basic knowledge of the characteristics and performance of rocket engines and its application in aerospace propulsion. - Adequate and applied techniques and procedures for turbomachinery design knowledge.

1. Rocket motors and fundamental parameters - The rocket equation. Specific Impulse. Effective velocity increment; gravity and drag losses. Delta-V for various missions. Staging. 2. Rocket dynamics - 2D Rocket motion. Parallel, perpendicular, and rotation equation. Trajectory during ascent. Aerodynamic stability. Lateral wind. Gravity turn. 3. Rocket nozzles. - Quasi-1D model with ideal gas. Choked mass flow. Pressure ratio, area ratio, exit Mach number. Thrust and thrust coefficient. characteristic velocity. Variation with external pressure. Flow separation. Real effects. Method of characteristics for nozzle design. Expansion of reacting gas. 4. Heat transfer and cooling in rockets. - Stanton number, film coefficient. The Reynolds analogy, Bartz's correlation. Regenerative cooling. Ablation cooling. 5. Solid propellant rockets. - Grain composition, combustion and regression rate. Steady and transient mass balance. Massflow model. Chamber pressure selection. Construction. Grain geometry. Ignition. 6. Liquid propellant rockets. - Mono- and bi-propellant rockets. Properties of common propellants. Pressurization cycles. Combustion instabilities. Injectors 7. Hybrid Rockets. - Internal ballistics. Mass flow model. 8. Non-Chemical rockets. - Nuclear. Electric propulsion and Low-Thrust. Types of electric thrusters.

Theory sessions. Problem sessions working individually and in groups. Homework exercises/class quizzes Lab sessions.