DEPARTMENT OF AERONAUTICAL ENGINEERING

AE 2033
ROCKETS & MISSILES

DHARMAHINDER SINGH CHAND

Assistant Professor, Aero. Dept
 UNIT-I
Part-A
1. Define mass ratio of a rocket & propellant ratio.
2. Name the parameter on which burnout range depends.
3. What do you mean by gravity turn trajectory?
4. Name the phases of trajectory in missiles.
5. What a cruise missile? Give an example?
6. Define structural efficiency of rockets.
7. What is nominal plane of motion in 2D rocket motion?
8. What is culmination altitude?
9. Differentiate between Specific thrust from Thrust to weight ratio.
10. Why is it that launch vehicles are launched vertically at the time of lift-off?
11. Define payload ratio of rocket vehicles.
12. What are the important features of rocket motion under constant thrust?
13. What is kick angle in angle in gravity turn trajectory?
14. What is zero lift trajectories & what is its importance?

Part-B
1. Derive the ideal velocity of rocket in free space in terms of payload fraction& structural
efficiency.
2. Determine the burnout velocity & burnout altitude for a drag less rocket with the following
parameters for a simplified vertical trajectory; Effective exhaust velocity (C) = 2000m/s;
Propellant ratio mp/mo = 0.6 burning time tb = 10sec & uo=ho=0. Assume that rocket developers
constant thrust.
3. Derive a relation for burn out time of propellant in terms of specific impulse, thrust to weight
ratio & mass ratio. Assume that thrust is constant.
4. Show that the trajectory of a rocket vehicle is a straight line of the pitch angle is constant.
Assume that specific thrust & gravity (g) are also constant. Neglect aerodynamic forces.
5. Derive Tsiolkovsky’s equation for the velocity increment of a rocket in gravity free vacuum
environment & deduce the ideal velocity of the rocket in terms of mass ratio
6. Write down the general equation of 2D rocket motion in a homogeneous gravitational field,
neglecting the aerodynamic forces. Deduce the equation of motion for a vertical flight.
7. Determine the burnout velocity of a projectile without drag in a vertical trajectory with the
following parameters; effective exhaust velocity 2209m/s, propellant ratio 0.57, burning time =
5sec & initial velocity = 0.
8. Derive the equation of a 2D rocket motion in vacuum a gravity turn at constant pitch rate.
9. A rocket has one fifth of its original lake-off mass at the time of burnout. If the burning time &
the specific impulse of the propellant are respectively 10sec & 240sec, determine the burnout
velocity.
10. Derive the expressions for burnout & culmination ranges.
 UNIT-II
Part-A
1. What is TVC & its need?
2. Name different types of TVC methods used in LPR’s?
3. How swiveling nozzle is used for TVC?
4. What do you mean by TMC?
5. List some TMC methods?
6. Define thrust termination?
7. What is the need of multistage in rockets?
8. Define firing technique in rockets?
9. What is ullage rocket technique?
10. Define growth factor?
11. What factors determine the thrust of a rocket motor?
12. Differentiate tandem & parallel staging of a rocket?
13. Differentiate a sub-rocket & a stage?
14. How do you provide the separation velocity needed for the upper stage of a space vehicle
during stage separation?
15. Describe the working principle of SITVC?
16. Distinguish between aerodynamic control and jet control of missiles?
17. What is an adapted nozzle?
Part-B
1. Illustrate the methods used for TVC, with their relative merits & demerits?
2. Discuss briefly about TMC and methods employed for TMC?
3. Write a short note on thrust termination?
4. Elaborate about multistage of rockets?
5. Describe about nomenclature of multistage rockets?
6. Illustrate about technique used for stage separation in rockets?
7. Write advantages & disadvantages of separation techniques?
8. Write a short note on (i) Stage separation space (ii) Small solid propellant rockets
9. Illustrate about separation by compression spring?
10. Write short note on coast phase?
11. What is parallel staging of rockets? Discuss the advantages & disadvantages of parallel
staging compared to tandem staging?
12. Calculate the net velocity achieved by a payload of 100kg boosted by a two stage rocket if
each stage has a mass rate of 6, total weight of 1200kg and exhaust velocity of 3500m/s.
drag and gravity are neglected.
13. Show that the separation velocity of a compression spring assisted stage separation is a
function of the kinetic energy of the spring and the masses of the stages.
14. Discuss the need for aerodynamic controls & explain two of them with suitable sket

UNIT-III
Part-A
1. Name the three major sections of missile body?
2. What are the shapes used for forebody?
3. What is the significance of boat tail?
4. What are considerations taken into account for designing wing of a missile?
5. Name the supersonic wing cross sectional shapes.
6. List the supersonic wing planforms?
7. Show the forces acting on a missile body while passing through atmosphere?
8. How do you classify missiles?
9. What is wing body interference?
10. Differentiate upwash & downwash.
11. Write the types of missile control.
12. What is wing control & canard control?
13. Define tail control.
14. List the wing arrangement for missiles.
15. Why dispersion occurs in missiles or rockets?
16. What canting of aerodynamic surfaces?
17. What is wave drag of supersonic missiles?
18. What is supersonic leading edge?
19. Define static stability margin of a missile.
20. What are the advantages of an ogival fore body for missile?
21. Define term subsonic leading edge.
Part-B
11. Explain briefly airframe components of rockets & missile. What are the shapes of each generally
employed in rockets & missiles
12. Draw pressure distribution over body contour also. What are the disadvantages of boat tail.
13. Plot typical base pressure coefficient v/s mach no. for a missile.
14. Classify missiles & their particular application
15. Discuss briefly methods of describing forces & moments acting on a rocket projectile
16. Write a short note on fins
17. What is the influence of fins of rocket on the lateral aerodynamic moment
18. Write short note on (i) Lateral aerodynamic damping moment (ii) Longitudinal aerodynamic
moment.
19. Write short notes on (i) longitudinal aerodynamic damping moment (ii) dependence of C d on α
(iii) Dependence of CL on α.
20. How do you estimate different types of drags on missile?
21. Discuss different types of missile control with their relative advantages & disadvantages
22. Explain briefly about wing arrangements used in missile
23. Illustrate about dispersion in missiles & rockets. What are the measures to minimize it?
24. Discuss about power-off flight?

UNIT-IV
Part-A
1. Name the types of igniters used in Rockets?
2. What is hypergolic ignition?
3. Name the solid rocket igniters.
4. Functions of Booster charger.
5. What is the use of main charge?
6. Name the types of injectors used in Rockets.
7. What is functions of an injector?
8. What is primary objectives of cooling thrust chamber?
9. What do you mean by propellant hammer?
10. Define geysering effect.
11. What is propellant slosh?
12. Write an expression for ignition delay.
Part-B
1. Explain briefly about ignition system of Rocket propulsion?
2. Write down the characteristics of hypergolic liquids & some combinations for
hypergolic ignition?
3. Discuss elaborately about solid rocket igniters with neat sketch?
4. Write the advantages of solid rocket igniters?
5. Write the disadvantages of solid rocket igniters?
6. List out the characteristics of the squib?
7. Explain briefly about the injectors used in rocket propulsion?
8. Describe with suitable sketches how propellant tanks of bipropellant Rocket can be
arranged?
9. What is propellant slosh? Discuss its effects on flight vehicles & explain how it is
controlled?
10. Describe a liquid propellant rocket engine with a turbo-pump feed system with suitable
sketches?
11. A liquid oxygen hydrogen rocket thrust chamber develops a thrust of 10,000kgf for a
mixture ratio of 3.4 the Isp of motor is 420sec & it operates for 120sec the density of
oxygen & hydrogen are respectively 1200kg/m3 & 79kg/m3. Find out the propellant tank
volumes.
12. With a neat sketch explain how cooling of combustion chamber of a liquid rocket is
done?
13. Illustrate the various components of pyrotechnic igniter. What factors need to be
considered in the selection of ignition of ignition mixture?
14. Explain the combustion wave structure of both solid & gas phases during composite
solid propellant combustion?

15. Determine injector hole sizes for a multiple hole doublet impinging stream injectors
which uses alcohol & liquid oxygen as propellants, if the thrust of the engine is 110kgf
& Isp = 210s with 4 jet pairs. Assume that the motor chamber pressure = 20kg/cm2,
fuel pressure =27kg/cm2. Oxidizer pressure = 26kg/cm2, ρo =1200kg/cm3,
ρf = 818kg/cm3, mixture ratio = 1.2, cdo = 0.87,cdf = 0.91.
16. Describe typical gas pressure feed system off a bipropellant liquid rocket engine with a
suitable sketches.
17. Write short note on (i) Propellant slosh (ii) Geysering effect.
18. Distinguish a pyrogen igniter from a pyrotechnic igniters & explain the process of a
solid motor ignition with pyrogen type igniter.
19. For an ideal rocket with a characteristics velocity of 1200m/s, a mass flow rate of
70kg/s a thrust co-efficient of 1.5 & a nozzle throat area of 0.024m2. Calculate the thrust,
specific impulse & the effective exhaust velocity.
20. What is the important design consideration of liquid rocket combustion chamber? What
factors decide the volume & shape of the combustion chamber?
21. What are the adverse effects of propellant feed lines? What safety features must be
followed in structural design?

UNIT-V
 Part-A
1. List the selection criteria for materials used in spacecraft structure.
2. What is aerodynamic heating?
3. What is the limitation for carbon-epoxy?
4. Mention application of ceramic materials.
5. What is thermal shock?
6. List the selection criteria of materials used in rockets?
7. What are the ablative materials?
8. Suggest suitable materials for ballistic missile nose cone & rocket nozzle.
9. Write the material used for short range missile nose?
10. Define impact load.
11. What are ablative materials?
12. Explain the materials used in long range missile main body.
13. Mention application of Al alloy in space launch vehicles & missiles.
14. Why are throat needed for rocket nozzle?
Part-B
1. Explain the materials that can be used for short range missiles?
2. With the help of a neat sketch, explain how thermal protection can be ensured for re-
entry bodies. Give the examples of ablative materials?
3. Explain the phenomenon of thermal shock. What are the applications of ceramic
materials for the aerospace vehicles?
4. Suggest materials for following components (i) Nose cone (ii) wing leading edges (iii)
Nozzle throat inserts (iv) Motor case.
5. Explain the effect of space environment on rocket materials?
6. Explain the aerodynamic heating problem in rockets/
7. Explain the suitability of materials?
8. Describe any two types of adverse conditions during the operation of aerospace vehicles,
to which materials are exposed?
9. What are the materials used for following components (i) Rocket nozzle (ii) missile
wing (iii) liquid rocket injector heads.
10. Discuss the choice of materials for solid motor nozzle & describe their functions.