Course Syllabus

AOE 4894/5984 Booster Design, Fabrication, and Operation

Instructor Information

Dr. H. Pat Artis
AOE Professor of Practice
Office:  202 Randolph Hall
email:  hartis@vt.edu
Office Hours:  Tuesday and Thursday 9:30-11:00; and by appointment

 Principles of Community

The Virginia Tech Principles of Community will guide all our interactions together this semester; above all, this class should represent an environment in which everyone is treated with respect and encouraged to learn and grow. The VT Principles of Community are intended to increase access and inclusions and to create a community that nurtures learning and growth for all of its members; as such, they will guide our interactions this semester:

• We affirm the inherent dignity and value of every person and strive to maintain a climate for work and learning based on mutual respect and understanding.
• We affirm the right of each person to express thoughts and opinions freely. We encourage open expression within a climate of civility, sensitivity, and mutual respect.
• We affirm the value of human diversity because it enriches our lives and the University. We acknowledge and respect our differences while affirming our common humanity.
• We reject all forms of prejudice and discrimination, including those based on age, color, disability, gender, national origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, and veteran status. We take individual and collective responsibility for helping to eliminate bias and discrimination and for increasing our own understanding of these issues through education, training, and interaction with others.
• We pledge our collective commitment to these principles in the spirit of the Virginia Tech motto of Ut Prosim (That I May Serve).

ABET 2000 Criteria

We will focus on presenting the course as well as structuring the homework problems, projects, and exams consistent with ABET 2000 criteria, which state that graduates in AOE must demonstrate:

(a) the ability to apply knowledge of math, engineering, and science.

(b1) the ability to design and conduct experiments.

(b2) the ability to analyze and interpret data.

(c) the ability to design system, component or process to meet needs.

(d) the ability to function on multi-disciplinary teams.

(e) the ability to identify, formulate, and solve engineering problems.

(f) an understanding of professional and ethical responsibility.

(g) an ability to communicate effectively .

(h) the broad education necessary to understand the impact of engineering solutions in a global, economic, environmental, and social context.

(i) recognition of need and ability to engage in life-long learning.

(j) knowledge of contemporary issues.

(k) an ability to use techniques, skills, and tools in engineering practice.

Course Description

This course introduces the concepts of booster design and rocket propulsion.   We will cover topics such as:  

• propulsion system classes
• definitions and fundamentals
• nozzle theory and thermodynamic relationships
• flight performance
• JANNAF propellant analysis
• liguid propellant engine fundamentals
• liquid propellant fundamentals
• thrust chambers
• combustion stability
• turbopumps
• engine controls and operations
• solid propellant fundamentals
• solid rocket combustion and scalability
• solid rocket design
• thrust vector control
• flight operations

Prerequisite courses: AOE 2074, AOE 3024, ESM 2304, and AOE 3034 or instructor approval. For graduate credit, the student must have completed an undergraduate senior design course series in their respective major.

A hybrid approach will be used for this course.  

Tuesday will be a traditional lecture.   

Thursday will complete the traditional lecture or discuss an existing (or historical) missile systems.   

Primary Learning Objectives

Having successfully completed this course, the student will be able to:

• Explain and apply the basic theory of rocket design.
• Understand and evaluate the single-stage-to orbit problem.
• Explain combustion and combustion instability.
• Quantify the mass fraction deliverable to orbit as a function of the number of stages and propellant ISP.
• Determine the minimum structural requirements for a booster.
• Explain vehicle design operation at a subsystems and systems level.
• Develop numerical calculations to estimate the performance requirements for a booster to deliver a payload to a specified orbit.

 Textbook

Sutton and Biblarz,Rocket Propulsion Elements, 8th Edition, John Wiley and Sons, New Jersey, 2010.

• A PDF version of the book is available in the files section of this course.

Learning Management System

All class materials (syllabus, calendar, homework assignments, lecture notes, and supplements), announcements, and grades will be distributed using the new Virginia Tech Learning Management System, http://www.canvas.vt.edu/.   Some resources to help you with Canvas:

• Read the Ramp-Up for Students
• Download the apps so you can access from smartphone, iPad, or Android devices:  
  • Canvas by Instructure
  • Polls for Canvas
  • Canvas by Instructure
  • Polls for Canvas
• iOS
• Android

Grading

Homework	20%
Midterm Brief	20%
Final Brief	20%
Design Report	40%
Total	100%

A letter grade will be deducted for each two unexcused absences.

Attendance Policy

Attendance will be taken and unexcused absences will impact your grade.  If you have planned absence, please let Dr. Artis know.

Laptop Policy

The use of laptops will not be permitted in class.   Laptop screens can be a major distraction to other students, especially if you are surfing the internet instead of paying attention.  Therefore technology is limited to tablets which lay flat on the table.   If your internet activities are a distraction to other students or the instructor, you will be asked to leave the classroom.

Homework Policy

Homework will be assigned on Tuesdays, and will be due at 11:59pm on the following Monday.   Your homework submission should be submitted in digital form (PDF) to the course page on Canvas.   Your submission should include a title, your name, and email address.   All work should be shown, and it must be clearly written.   Where appropriate, all dimensional units should be included.   Illegible submissions will not be graded.   Late homework will not be accepted, except for extreme circumstances or documented illness.

Honor Code Statement