Centre For Space Transport & Propulsion,(CSTP)

Epe, Lagos, Nigeria.

National Space Research & Development Agency
Federal Ministry of Science and Technology (FMST)

Hands on Training CSTP, EPE – 2022

for
Lagos State University (LASU) Epe
by
Centre For Space Transport and Propulsion
(CSTP),
Epe,
Lagos -State.
(Recovery and Vibration Unit)

Engr. (Dr) M. Adebayo

 Course Contents CSTP, EPE – 2022

A Recovery system
 Introduction
Component
 Types of Recovery system
 Advantages of Recovery
B Vibration Control
 Definition
 Need for vibration control
 Sources of vibration
 Some examples of its effects on
typical launched Rockets

system  Vibration control techniques

  References
Choice of recovery system
 Operational principle
 Positioning of Parachute
 Design and Calculations
 Definition:
Parachute recovery system is an assembly of
components that enable the rocket and its
accessories to be recovered undamaged and
reusable with a 100% reliability within a defined
environment.

COMPONENTS TO BE RECOVERED
 PAYLOAD
 NOSECONE
 BODY TUBE (FUSELAGE)
 ENGINE (NOZZLE)
 CONTROL AND AVIONICS EQUIPMENTS
 High power rockets
High power rockets are essentially large, unguided model
rockets that can fly to altitudes as high as 13 km and recover
to earth by parachute. High-power rockets (HPR) are
popular academic activity with a number of research
institutes and universities using it as a research tool and
teaching. It can also be characterized as a rocket with total
impulse of between 160 Ns and 40,960 Ns according to
National Fire Protection Association (NFPA, 2002).
Types of Recovery Systems:
DRAG BASED RECOVERY SYSTEMS
Tumble recovery
Balloon deployment at apogee
Streamer or ‘Drag Tag’ recovery
Air brake flap system that opens during
descent
Featherweight
Glide
Parachute recovery
 RECOVERY SYSTEM CONT’D

TUMBLE RECOVERY
This is a simple rocket recovery method
appropriate for small rockets or rockets with
large cross-sectional area. This applies by
having a rocket tumble back to earth.
 RECOVERY SYSTEM CONT’D

STREAMER RECOVERY
This is also suitable for small rockets. It uses the
ejection charge of the motor to push out the
streamer. (Faster descent, Higher altitude).
 RECOVERY SYSTEM CONT’D
GLIDE RECOVERY
In glide recovery system, the ejection charge
either deploys an airfoil or separates a glide
from the motor. If properly trimmed, the
rocket/glider will enter a spiral glide and
return safely.
 Advantage of Recovery System

Retarding of crash Airplane

With parachute
Advantage of Recovery System Cont’d

Retarding of airplane
with parachute for soft
landing
Advantage of Recovery System Cont’d
Advantage of Recovery System Cont’d

Parachute is used to reduce the speed of an

airplane.
Advantage of Recovery System Cont’d

Parachute is used to supply

ammunition during the war
Advantage of Recovery System Cont’d

Soft landing of passenger

During Airplane disaster
Advantage of Recovery System Cont’d

Soft landing of solder inside

the camp of enemies.
 Why Recovery system

 Enable safe landing of the rocket structure,

payload and other components.
 Ensures reusability of the rocket and its
components.
 PARACHUTE RECOVERY SYSTEM

This consist of a series of gores sewn into a desirable shape to

increase drag for safe landing and recovery of the rocket and its
accessories.
Two or more parachutes are mostly used for high flights, the bigger
chute is called the Main while the smaller one is called the drogue.
 ADVANTAGE OF PARACHUTE
RECOVERY SYSTEM

parachute recovery system is considered to be suitable due to

the following reasons:

Availability of materials locally

Reusability
Easily modifiable
Lighter weight
 Allowed post launch analysis
 Properties of materials used to make
parachutes
Canvas: lt is a very heavy-duty.
Terylene: Very strong and heat resistant.
Kevlar: Extremely strong synthetic fabric that can be used
in bullet-proof clothing; heat and flame
resistant, tensile strength is constant over a long
period.
Silk: lt is lighter; stronger, thinner, fire resistance, easy to
fold and pack.
Nylon: lt is used when supply of silk
diminished; excellent wind resistant, good elasticity,
mildew resistance and comparatively cheaper. Light
weight, dries quickly, resistant to abrasion and
chemicals. Because of its exceptional strength, it is used
Kinematic Analysis of parachute recovery
system.
The principle of operation of a parachute follows the concept of
a free-fall motion of a body under the action of acceleration due
to gravity (Ballistic descent) and the action of aerodynamic
drag during descent regime of the rocket. In the mechanism of
the parachute, an ejection system is used to deploy the
parachute.
Dual deployment mechanism are used in the recovery of high
power rocket . This involves the use of two parachute, the
drogue and the main chute. The drogue chute which deploys at
flight apogee is used to reduce rocket drift and also reduce the
decent speed for the safe deployment of the main chute while
the main parachute is used to reduce the falling speed to ensure
the safe land of the rocket.
BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF PROCESSES

The following are the brief descriptions of processes that

take place at various stages of the rocket namely:

 ATTACHMENT- Recovery harness is attached

to the thrust chamber and the Avionic bay through their U-
bolts.

POSITIONING- For the second stage, parachute

is positioned between the thrust chamber bulk head and
canister carried- side of Avionic bay. whilst the first stage
is having the parachute positioned in between one side of
the Avionic bay and the bulkhead inside the Nose Cone .
BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF PROCESSES

EJECTION- Ejection force/pressure from the black

powder brakes the shear pins, separates the thrust chamber
and the avionics bay, leading to the ejection of the
parachute and eventual deployment of the chute.

 Recovery Wadding
Recovery wadding is chemically treated flame-resistant
material that protects the parachute (or other recovery
system components) from the hot blast of the motor ejection
charge.
BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF PROCESSES

DEPLOYMENT-
The parachute envelopes air and blossom,
thereby imposes drag with resultant deceleration of
the rocket.

Shroud lines
The shroud lines connect the parachute canopy to the
rest of the rocket. The shroud lines on most model rocket
parachutes are made of strong thread, such as carpet
thread, but they may also be made of other material.
BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF PROCESSES

Shock Cord
The shock cord holds the parts of the rocket
together after they separate at ejection. The
shock cord may be made of an elastic material
to help absorb the shock of the separating
parts coming to a halt at the ends of the cord,
or it could be made from a non-elastic line (in
which case it is normally longer). Typical
materials for shock cards are sewing elastic,
rubber, nylon, and Kevlar
View of a complete displayed parachute
Main and drogue Parachutes Recovery deployed
at predetermined altitude
 Design factors:
•Shock to withstand at landing
•Recoverable weight
•Descent speed
•Weather/Environmental details
 Kinetic Analysis of Parachute

8Mg h
v 2
D Cd  h
Descent speed formula

W  Mgh
GORE LAYOUT DESIGN AND CALCULATIONS
FROM HEMISPHERICAL GEOMETRY
C

  number  of  gores A O B

Fig.1.0.b:
Gore layout
 2xn 2n R
xn  R cos n ln  wn 
 360
n Angle defined by unit increase in gore height

n ranges from 0  90
ln  Varying arc widths
wn  Varying arc lengths
 SHROUD LINE LENGTH
CALCULATION.
The length of the Shroud line is given in this form
L = 2.25(D+S)
where,
D = Diameter of the chute
S = Stitching length.
 SHOCK CORD LENGTH
CALCULATION.
Shock cord length is three (3) times length
of the rocket, i.e. 3L. Where L is the
length of the rocket to be launch.
 GORE LAYOUT

Complete parachute
Gore Sample Gore layout with shroud
line
Total Recovery Time: CSTP, EPE – 2014

Total Drift:
 The Recovery Zone: CSTP, EPE – 2014

Recovery Area:
 CSTP, EPE – 2022

Introduction To Vibration Control

 CSTP, EPE – 2014

What is Vibration?
Vibration is to and fro movement of a system
about an equilibrium position.
Most of the time, the vibration of mechanical
systems is undesirable as it wastes energy, reduces
efficiency and may be harmful or even dangerous.
 Need for Vibration Control CSTP, EPE – 2014

Mechanical vibrations can be dangerous on systems and can

lead to catastrophic failures if not analyzed and managed
appropriately.
Hence, its analysis and management is crucial and necessary to
prevent:
 Prevent coupling of structural modes and engine vibration
(resonance prevention)
 Mitigation against engine acoustic pressure from structural
excitation
 Prevent jitter
 Rocket performance in view of stability and altitude
 CSTP, EPE – 2014
Saturn Rocket Vibration
“Pain was directly associated with motion of
the eyeballs and testicles, as well as from
internal heating that resulted from sloshing of
the brain and viscera. The vibration frequency
was also in the range of normal brain waves,
adding confusion to decision making, hand and
arm movement, and even speech.”

–Jim Fenwick on Pogo oscillation

 CSTP, EPE – 2014

North Korean rocket March 2012

“While the lower stages of the North Korean
rocket continued to function for several
minutes, resonance at the top of the launch
vehicle resulted in ‘catastrophic disassembly of
the third stage at Max Q,’ said Charles Vick,
senior technical and space policy analyst at
Global Security.org. ‘The vibrations just tore it
apart’.
 CSTP, EPE – 2014

Space Shuttle Main Engine Turbo pumps

“The high-pressure pumps rotated at speeds
reaching 36,000 rpm on the fuel side and
24,000 rpm on the oxidizer side. At these
speeds, minor faults were exacerbated and
could rapidly propagate to catastrophic
engine “…the vibration spectral data
contained potential failure indicators in the
form of discrete rotordynamic spectral
signatures. These signatures were prime
indicators of turbomachinery health…
EFFECTS OF CSTP, EPE – 2014
VIBRATION

Resonance Frequency: 5Hz

Human Body
chest pains
engine failure
discomfort Fatigue
muscle contractions
Resonance Control system coupling

STRUCTURAL
Excess IMPLICATIONS
Vibration components Malfunction

Catastrophic disassembly
Propulsion
system coupling

Avionic
equipment
Fluttering of Fins
CSTP, EPE – 2014

Vibration isolator
 Sources of vibration CSTP, EPE – 2014

Mechanical vibrations arises from:

 Unbalance forces of rotating and reciprocating
systems (e.g. pumps, electric motors)
 Impact forces (e.g. Hammers, shock waves)
 Pressure loadings on surfaces due to winds and
acoustic noise (e.g. aircraft fuselage, rocket body
tube)
 Motion on irregular roads (e.g. cars, mobile
launchers)
 CSTP, EPE – 2014

Oscillation (vibration) - induced instability in

Rocket
 Sheer speed of  Acoustic Pressures(liftoff, transonic,
rocket(>4*speed of sound) max dynamic pressure)
 Thrust oscillation(Burning of
 Movement of control propellant )
surfaces  Impact(bird)
 Pogo oscillation  Sloshing
 Aerodynamic Pressures  Pyroshocks (explosive bolts )
 Winds
 Turbulence

Propellant sloshing in
Liquid Rocket tanks
 Vibration Control Techniques:
Vibration Control
•Minimize excitation: In real systems, if the excitation
frequency can be adjusted to have a frequency larger than
systems natural frequencies, then the system response will be
significantly reduced.
•Specify system parameters:
System displacement X
F
is dependent on X  0

m     2  
1
2 2 2 2 2
Mass(m), n n

Stiffness (K) and

damping coefficient (C)parameters of the system. If the
harmonic excitation frequency is known, designing system
parameters to minimize steady-state amplitudes is possible.
K Damping ratio   C
¿ Natural frequency  n 
m 2 Km
 CSTP, EPE – 2022
Vibration Control
•Change system configuration :If we use
the same system and add an additional
mass-spring-damper on it, the new system
will be two degree of freedom.
If this additional mass-spring-damper
system is designed correctly, it will act like a
vibration absorber. With addition of correctly tuned
vibration absorber, system resonance frequencies can be
moved away from the excitation frequency.
•Reduce force transmission: Machine’s creating
mechanical vibrations can have force transmission to its
base reduced by implementing vibration isolators and
isolation systems such as elastic rubbers, vibration mounts,
wire rope isolators, vibration pads, shock absorbers and
 References
(1)Centre For Space Transport and Propulsion (CSTP) Epe, Library

(2) Recovery and Vibration archive

(3) Clarence W. de Silva (2000). Vibration Fundamentals and

Practice

(4) Beards C. F. (1995). Engineering Vibration Analysis with

Application to Control Systems
BSc, PhD, CEng, MRAeS, MIOA Consultant in Dynamics,
Noise and Vibration
Formerly of the Department of Mechanical Engineering.
Imperial College of Science,
Technology and Medicine University of London
 CSTP, EPE – 2022

Thanks