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Fig. 1: Blueprint of the Nike_Apache Rocket.
The RockSim was a vital part of this rocket creation process as it allowed us to look at actual, real world rocket models and extract ideas from their designs. The blueprint shown in Figure 1 is of the Nike_Apache, which is a two stage rocket that carries payloads into space. Our original cone blueprint was extracted from this rocket blueprint.
Part of the RockSim experiment was to learn how to identify the different key points in a rocket launch and parachute deployment. After performing a simulation, we could extract the data recorded and plot it into a graph. The key events highlighted directly in the graph in Figure 2 are the ejection, the apogee, and the burnout, which are key technical terms that have to be understood:
Ejection:
This is when the payload or in our case when the parachute is ejected from the rocket.
Apogee:
This is the point in which the rocket reaches the highest point of its trajectory
Burnout
This is when the fuel or propellant of a rocket has been entirely consumed
Fig. 2: Image of the graph highlighting the key events in the RockSim Simulation.
rocksim5.movVideo 1: Video of the information being updated live whilst performing test.
Although RockSim looked old and unsophisticated at first glance, its function of recording and showing us data about rocket launches was highly effective.
Whilst performing the virtual simulation of our rocket launches, RockSim was able to record and display a range of data points for what forces were acting upon our rocket at a given time such as:
Cd (Drag Coeficient)
Altitude
X-acceleration
Y-acceleration
Flight Angle
Radial moment of Inertia
rocksim 2.movVideo 2: Video of Rocket launching regularly until it reaches its peak.
The simulation allowed us to alter certain conditins that would affect how our rocket flew. The one that we woked on the most was high wind speeds.
We knew that our actual rocket would be light, and thus there was the possibility of it being highly influenced by the wind outside when performing the test. The video displays low air speed conditions but we also worked with high and terminal wind speeds.
This process of using high wind speeds allowed us to perform a sort of trial and error process to see which wings and cones had the most stability in these extreme weather conditions.
rocksim 6.movVideo 3: Video of the parachute being activated.
The final goal of this project was to properly deploy the parachute in our rocket, so it was vital for us to understand in the RockSim how this process happens.
The parachute simulation allowed us to see the the parachute had to be deployed at the peak of a rockets curve for it to properly deploy, which helped us later do our final design for the point of our rocket.
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