Longhorn Rocketry Association

As an aerospace engineer within the Advanced Research Department of the Longhorn Rocketry Association, my team and I were tasked with developing, simulating, and building an air brake system which could decrease and feather the apogee of a supersonic International Rocketry Competition Rocket. More specifically, the criteria for the project was to develop a system which could decrease the altitude of a rocket by 2500 feet, remain controllable throughout the ascent, and be reusable. Similarly, the constraints were that the entire system must weigh less than 3 pounds, be less than 6 inches tall and have a diameter of 6 inches or less. Going into the project, the design philosophy was simplicity and interchangeability. Component dimensions were standardized and more elementary systems such as spiral torsion springs were employed to increase reliability and drive down production costs. 

During this project, I focused primarily on initial prototype development and structural simulation. In particular, I mastered both On Shape and Fusion 360 CAD programs to generate an airbrake which used rotational axles and guided rails to extend fins which increased the drag coefficient and lowered the apogee. I also developed a four-point spiral torsion spring which would automatically retract the fins into a "rest position" if the primary power of the airbrake was cut off. From there, I also simulated the airbrake under 103 kilopascals of pressure to determine the component deformation and von Mises stress on the airbrake during a launch using Finite Element Analysis. The data provided then allowed me to calculate the strength margins and the safety factors for the airbrake for a given launch. Finally, I presented the design to a panel of judges with a particular emphasis on the static structural calculations and the design philosophy for the project. 

My primary takeaway from this project would be the importance of being open to learn. This project utilized aspects from many disparate fields such as structural design to simulation and analysis. By adopting and mastering these skills I was able to broaden my horizons and pus the boundaries of what was truly possible in relation to testing and product design. I also learned to improve my presentation technique through practice in the performance design review. The technical questions, and calculation heavy testing truly challenged me to dive into the fundamentals of the materials and the principles employed when creating this airbrake design.