Design, Analysis, and Testing of a Carbon Fibre-based Solid Rocket Motors

Year : 2025 | Volume : 13 | Special Issue 02 | Page : 650 669
    By

    C. Rakeshkumar,

  • Siya Singh,

  • A. Surenderpaul,

  • C. Anand,

  • C. Kowsalya,

  1. Assistant Professor, Department of Aeronautical Engineering, Vel Tech Rangarajan Dr. Sagunthala R&D Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
  2. Assistant Professor, Department of Aeronautical Engineering, Vel Tech Rangarajan Dr. Sagunthala R&D Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
  3. Assistant Professor, Department of Aeronautical Engineering, Tagore Engineering College, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
  4. Assistant Professor, Department of Aeronautical Engineering, Agni College of Technology, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
  5. Research Scholar, Department of Mathematics, School of Advanced Sciences, VIT University, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India

Abstract

The goal of the research is to simulate the outer shell of a rocket in order to fulfil mission criteria. Case failures can occur for a number of causes, including poor material selection, carelessness in the service conditions, inadequate non-destructive testing during crucial stages of production, and poor design and analysis. For this reason, it is crucial to simulate rockets with precise design and analysis. The study entails the designing of rocket case using Catia V5, modelling the rocket in Ansys Fluent 19.2 for aerodynamic analysis to simulate the flow around the rocket. Static structural analysis is carried out with Abaqus 6.14, where three different materials Carbon epoxy fibre, Kevlar epoxy fibre and Carbon-Kevlar fibre are selected. The result analysis focuses on the deformation observed under identical loading conditions across three distinct materials. Following this examination, the most appropriate material for fabricating the rocket structure is determined based on the findings. It is revealed that the Carbon-Kevlar composite exhibits the most favourable characteristics, making it the top choice for constructing the rocket. As a result, the Carbon-Kevlar composite is chosen and then fabricated for incorporation into the rocket’s structure. To ensure the reliability of the rocket under real-world conditions, rigorous testing was conducted near the seashore. These tests included parachute deployment and ignition trials, designed to simulate flight conditions and evaluate both the structural integrity and overall functionality of the system. The results confirm that the Carbon-Kevlar composite is well-suited for aerospace applications, ensuring optimal performance under high-stress environments.

Keywords: Carbon-epoxy, kevlar-epoxy, rocket structural analysis, aerodynamic analysis, Solid rocket motor.

[This article belongs to Special Issue under section in Journal of Polymer and Composites (jopc)]

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How to cite this article:
C. Rakeshkumar, Siya Singh, A. Surenderpaul, C. Anand, C. Kowsalya. Design, Analysis, and Testing of a Carbon Fibre-based Solid Rocket Motors. Journal of Polymer and Composites. 2025; 13(02):650-669.
How to cite this URL:
C. Rakeshkumar, Siya Singh, A. Surenderpaul, C. Anand, C. Kowsalya. Design, Analysis, and Testing of a Carbon Fibre-based Solid Rocket Motors. Journal of Polymer and Composites. 2025; 13(02):650-669. Available from: https://journals.stmjournals.com/jopc/article=2025/view=209310


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Special Issue Subscription Original Research
Volume 13
Special Issue 02
Received 03/10/2024
Accepted 28/01/2025
Published 15/02/2025
Publication Time 135 Days
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