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Our IREC flight systems team used MATLAB to analytically solve an altitude-mass optimization problem for the IREC rocket. The average thrust used in this simulation is 1400N. This is a great estimate of the initial mass of our complete rocket for the competition but the flight systems team will tackle a numerical solution for a more accurate estimate of the rocket's initial mass to ensure we achieve the altitude goal of 10,000ft at IREC!
Here's an updated model of the hybrid engine our members will build and then test at our test site at the Pickle Campus.
The yellow component is the oxidizer injector. Here, the liquid Nitrous oxide (N2O) will be pushed through orifices in the injector face into the combustion chamber. The purple material is the solid HTPB (Hydroxyl-Terminated Polybutadiene) fuel grain with which the N2O will react. The gases will then flow through the graphite nozzle, the green component at the end, to provide thrust. The aluminum casing will be protected from the heat of combustion with an ablative lining, modeled as the red lining extending down the length of the engine. There are grooves in both the injector and nozzle's profiles where o-rings will be placed to provide the engine with a tight seal to prevent gas from escaping through anything other than the nozzle. Not shown in the model is the threading that will secure the injector to the engine that will allow for secure mounting but easy removal during testing.
Stress analysis on the injector threading is complete, and we're ready to move on to testing to confirm hand-calculations. Flow analysis through both the injector and the nozzle is underway. Our members are working diligently to provide realistic flow models for our critical design review with Dr. Clemens and Dr. Varghese.
Stay tuned for a updates on flow analysis!
LRA is getting ready to present our designs for the engine test stand and safety systems to be installed at our test site at the Pickle Research Campus and the hybrid engine designs to our faculty advisors, Dr. Clemens and Dr. Varghese in a Critical Design Review.
Check out our Preliminary Design Review slides from mid-October for more technical information on what we have in mind for our test site and the hybrid engine using the link below!
Stay tuned for more technical updates on LRA's IREC rocket!
A rocket needs a body! LRA can buy much needed fiberglass to build our IREC rocket's body frame.
The team needs to run stainless steel tubing at the test site to carry fuel and water. Help our members test engines safely!
LRA needs specialized machining tools to machine critical parts of the hybrid rocket engine. Help them out with a tool or two!
LRA's test site is home to important research for both LRA and UT's Aerospace Engineering department. Help us keep them both safe during engine testing with a blast shield!
LRA's engine tests will be conducted remotely. Help us get all the necessary wiring and electronics installed at our test site to ensure our tests are conducted safely!
The engine test stand is designed to withstand the forces from the hybrid engine during testing. To ensure it can take the forces of testing, LRA will outsource the thrust structure to a professional welder!
There are components of the engine that will have complicated geometries such as the engine nozzle. These components are critical to the success of the rocket in the IREC competition, so help us send our designs to a professional machinist!
The IREC team is a consolidation of almost all of LRA's members and they all need transportation to and lodging at the IREC rocket launch site in New Mexico next summer. Help our team get there and experience the explosive results of their hard work!
Help LRA complete all test site upgrades and improvements and obtain all materials needed for our hybrid engine!
Although IREC is next summer, LRA hopes to continue researching and developing custom rocket engines for years to come! Help us make our engine test site a permanent addition to the Pickle Research Campus by supporting our research into hybrid rocket engines!
