Master thesis and internship[BR]- Master's thesis : Empirical estimation of the rocket drag[BR]- Integration Internship

Abstract

In many contexts, the quote "It is not Rocket science" is used but in this case, it could not. Rockets have been used for years now and are still improved every day in order to be more accurate, effective and reliable.

The aim of this master thesis is to estimate the drag coefficient of rockets. This is very important to know this parameter in order to simulate correctly the trajectory of the rocket.

In the purpose of estimating the drag coefficient, a theoretical and methods review has been executed. It has provided an overview of what is available and what could be implemented.

The method chosen has been Fleeman's method. It has been implemented and compared to experimental results for validation. It sorted out that improvements were needed and to know how to proceed a sensitivity analysis of the method has been carried out. The correlations linked to the nose in the supersonic regime were then remodelled. Out of the two methods presented the one chosen takes the experimental results to improve the program. This method was tested on four rockets for its validation.

The results of the final method were then analysed and discussed through a new sensitivity analysis of the geometric parameters and with a new rocket. It sorted out that the new method was giving very good results. A software using this method has been created to be used by Thales.

The conclusion is that the objectives have been achieved with even more possibilities for improvement that can be made.