Model Rocket Design

RockSim

All of the videos I watched:

From this hyperlink you can find all of the RockSim video tutorials

Design & Planning

Component Selection and Customization

Fins

Best Fin Shape Article + Resources:

rocket fins templates 2024.pdf

Newsletter442 Best fin shape.pdf

These are the fins I decided to use:

I measured and placed them evenly around my rocket's body tube

here are my fin details in RockSim. I used the mass overide feature and set the fin's mass to 4.2 grams as this was the value I measured of my physical fins on the scale. I also changed the color to be a light-ish green so that I could better differentiate the fin design from the other components of the rocket. My fin material was Balsa wood.

2D fins

3D fins

Here is the rocket standing up with the fins installed

Nose Cone

Drag of Nose Cone Resources:

Drag_of_Nose_Cones.pdf

I selected this nose cone and glued on a tab where I could tie the shock cord and parachute to it and clip the altimeter on.

Here are my nose cone details in RockSim. I used the mass overide feature and entered 6.4 grams for the weight of the nose cone (this is the value I measured from my own, physical nose cone with the scale). The material of my nose cone was Polystrene PS and the shape was ogive.

2D Nose Cone

3D Nose Cone

Body Tube

here are the details of my body tube in RockSim. I used the mass overide feature and entered the weight as 10.4 grams as this is the value I measured of my physical body tube with the scale. I also changed the color to a bright light blue color so that I could differentiate it from the other componens in my design.

2D Body Tube

3D Body Tube

Engine Hook Ring

here are the details of my engine hook ring in RockSim. I used the mass overide feature and set the weight to 0.8 grams as this is the value I measured from the physical ring on the scale. I also changed the color to lavender so that I could differentiate it from the other components in my design.

2D Engine Hook Ring

3D Engine Hook Ring

Engine Mount Body Tube

Here are my engine mount body tube details in RockSim. I used the mass overide feature and entered 1.2 grams as the weight as this is what I measured from the physical component on the scale. I also changed the color to hot pink.

2D Engine Mount Body Tube

3D Engine Mount Body Tube

Here's a picture of the inner-body tubes

Launch Lug

Here is my launch lug details in RockSim. I used the mass overide feature and set the mass to 0.1 grams as I measured from the physical component on the scale. I also changed the color to purple.

2D Launch Lug

3D Launch Lug

Here's a picture of the launch lug on my rocket

Parachute

Here are the details of my parachute in RockSim. I used the mass overide feature and set the mass to 1.985 grams as I measured from the physical parachute with the scale. I also changed the color to a coral-orange.

2D Parachute

Here's a picture of the shock cord on my rocket

Stability Analysis

CG is the center of gravity which is where the weight of the airplane is applied.
CP is the center of pressure which is where the lift is applied.

RockSim determined my rocket design to be 'overstable' which, although I could have still pushed my rocket to go higher, I decided I wanted to allow myself wiggle-room in my design that way I could ensure my rocket would still be stable.

Overall 2D Design

Motor Selection & Configuration

Motor Configuration in Design

Here are the details of my motor in RockSim. I used the B4 motor with a 4 second delay.

Here's a picture of the motor with the ignition in it

Simulation Setup

Flight Events Setup:

Simulation controls setup:

starting state setup:

launch conditions setup:

Simulation & Iteration

Simulation Execution

when I launched the rocket in the RockSim simulation, it went a maximum altitude of 318.689 ft, went straight up and down, and stayed in the black cone range. I kept the design about the same as my first design was as this was a very ideal rocket launch projection.

Construction Quality

Precision and Accuracy in Build

My rocket put together was very accurate to my RockSim design.

Build Aesthetics and Sturdiness

I spray painted my rocket and ended up coloring the nose cone silver. Additionally, Griffin Orsinger helped me in naming the rocket: The Hyper Icy Pinky Pony Queen MEGA EDITION.

Launch Performance & Evaluation

Launch Success

video of launch.MOV

My rocket successfully launched and came back down without going into a tree!

Flight Performance

The RockSim simulation was very accurate to the actual rocket's performance. RockSim predicted that it would reach a max altitude of 318 feet and the altimeter recorded the actual flight as going 317 feet.

Recovery System Functionality

The recovery system did not work as it should have (the parachute was stuck inside of the body tube and did not deploy), however, the rocket still landed back down and was retrievable. Furthermore, the paper designed to keep the parachute from getting too hot did work. The rocket sustained minimal damages considering the lack of parachute deployment.

Rocket Altimeter

Installation

To instal the altimeter I clipped it onto the nose cone. Then to set it to record properly, I clicked the button on the altimeter twice and then held the button, waiting until it was flashing zeros to release.

Performance

the altimeter successfully and accurately recorded my rocket's flight!

Final Performance

Actual rocket performance compared to simulation predition

My rocket did perform as expected in the simulation. I believe this was due to my accuracy in design & construction of the rocket. I also used all of the same components in my construction of the rocket as I did in my RockSim design while also using the mass overide feature, allowing my parts and designs to be as accurate as possible.

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