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Model Rocket Stability On this page, you'll find links to other sites that have additional information about model rocket stability. Please tell us if they become dead links so that we can remove them.
Barrowman's Original NARAM R&D Report All the other documents that state the Barrowman equations reference this important document. However, they are all missing one important piece of information that this report contains. http://www.execpc.com/~culp/rockets/Barrowman.html The classic Barrowman Equations for determining the CP of a model rocket. http://www.dars.org/jimz/tir-30.pdfThe old Centuri publication of Jim Barrowman's equations. PDF file. Apogee Components' Technical Publication #17 "Numeric Methods in Model Rocket Design" (P/N 36017) This report covers the methods of calculating the CG and CP of odd rocket configurations. Understanding Rocket Simulations From the RockSim Software A report that covers the cardboard cut-out method, and computer simulations. Exploring the Cardboard Cut-out Method. An article that explains how the cardboard cut-out method works, and how it differs from the Barrowman Method of calculating stability. http://www.grc.nasa.gov/www/k-12/airplane/rktcp.html Definition of the Center-of-Pressure using the Cardboard-Cutout Method. This is not the same as the Barrowman Method for determining the CP of a rocket. The Cardboard-Coutout method is less accurate. http://www.apogeerockets.com/software/narcon99.zip This is an R&D report in PDF format. Written by Ed LaBudde, it explains how to extend the Barrowman Equations to high angles-of-attack. http://www.cmass.org/uploads/Robert.Galejs/sentinel39-galejs.pdf Extension to Barrowman Equations to account for body lift. Written by Robert Galejs (PDF format 144K). Wind Caused Instability A report by Bob Dahlquist on how wind affects the stability of rockets, and gives a proceedure for calculating the rod length or rocket speed necessary for a stable flight. "Comparison of Barrowman Stability Analysis with Wind Tunnel Data" By Tom McAtee. Does the Barrowman CP method stack up to real NASA wind tunnel data? This report answers that question. "A Design Procedure for Maximizing Altitude Performance." An R&D report written by Ed LaBudde that gives some good information on Dynamic Stability proceedures. (College level) 324K Download. http://www.ninfinger.org/~sven/rockets/gcsfaq.html Guidance and Control FAQ's from RMR. http://www.rocketvision.com/scripts/WebObjects.exe/RocketVision.woa/38/wo/MV4000wz400Va200Ah/1.2.13 Discusses how fins work, and how to tell if your rocket will fly right. (beginner level) http://www.webcom.com/sknkwrks/guidance.htm An explaination of rocket guidance written by a high school student. http://www.grc.nasa.gov/www/k-12/airplane/rktstab.html Definition (illustrated) of the stability of a model rocket (elementary and high school level). http://www.azstarnet.com/~elb/rockets/basics.html Explaination of stability on the elementary school level. http://www.nar.org/NARTS/TR13.htm Vern Estes' original stability report. It describeds the cardboard cut-out method of finding stabilty. http://www.grc.nasa.gov/www/k-12/airplane/rktcock.html Definition (illustrated) of weathercocking (elementary and high school level). http://naca.larc.nasa.gov/reports/1957/naca-report-1307/naca-report-1307.pdf "Lift and center of pressure of wing-body-tail combinations at subsonic, transonic, and supersonic speeds"by William C. Pitts, Jack N. Nielsen, George E. Kaattari. NACA Report 1307, Jan 1957. A method is presented for calculating the lift and centers of pressure of wing-body and wing-body-tail combinations at subsonic, transonic, and supersonic speeds. This was the report that was used by Jim Barrowman to come up with the classic method of determining the stability of rockets (University Level). An Adobe Acrobat (PDF) file of the entire report (~4 Mb). http://modelrockets.8m.com/guide/designing.html Simple design suggestions, with a brief explaination of rocket stability. http://www.grc.nasa.gov/www/k-12/airplane/rktcg.html Definition of a where the center of gravity of a rocket (high school level). http://members.aol.com/ricnakk/fins.html
Explanation of why fins are necessary on a rocket. http://astimage.daps.dla.mil/quicksearch/ MIL-HDBK-762, DESIGN OF AERODYNAMICALLY STABILIZED FREE ROCKETS as a pdf file. This is the book military contractors use to design rockets. http://naca.larc.nasa.gov/reports/1929/naca-report-285/index.cgi?page10.gif
Finding the CP/CG relationship of fins, and adding balance weights
for improved performance. |
