Vertical Wind Tunnel for Prediction of Rocket Flight Dynamics

Hoani Bryson; Hans Philipp Sültrop; George Buchanan; Christopher Hann; Malcolm Snowdon; Avinash Rao; Adam Slee; Kieran Fanning; David Wright; Jason McVicar; Brett Clark; Graeme Harris; Xiao Qi Chen

doi:10.3390/aerospace3020010

Aerospace (Mar 2016)

Vertical Wind Tunnel for Prediction of Rocket Flight Dynamics

Hoani Bryson,
Hans Philipp Sültrop,
George Buchanan,
Christopher Hann,
Malcolm Snowdon,
Avinash Rao,
Adam Slee,
Kieran Fanning,
David Wright,
Jason McVicar,
Brett Clark,
Graeme Harris,
Xiao Qi Chen

Affiliations

Hoani Bryson: Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Canterbury, Private Bag 4800, Christchurch 8140, New Zealand
Hans Philipp Sültrop: Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Canterbury, Private Bag 4800, Christchurch 8140, New Zealand
George Buchanan: Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Canterbury, Private Bag 4800, Christchurch 8140, New Zealand
Christopher Hann: Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Canterbury, Private Bag 4800, Christchurch 8140, New Zealand
Malcolm Snowdon: Rocket Lab Ltd., 3A Airpark Drive, Auckland 2022, New Zealand
Avinash Rao: Rocket Lab Ltd., 3A Airpark Drive, Auckland 2022, New Zealand
Adam Slee: Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Canterbury, Private Bag 4800, Christchurch 8140, New Zealand
Kieran Fanning: Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Canterbury, Private Bag 4800, Christchurch 8140, New Zealand
David Wright: Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Canterbury, Private Bag 4800, Christchurch 8140, New Zealand
Jason McVicar: School of Engineering and Information and Communication Technology (ICT), University of Tasmania, Private Bag 65, Hobart 7001, Australia
Brett Clark: Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Canterbury, Private Bag 4800, Christchurch 8140, New Zealand
Graeme Harris: Engineering and Architecture Department, Christchurch Polytechnic Institute of Technology (CPIT), P.O. Box 540, Christchurch Mail Centre, Christchurch 8140, New Zealand
Xiao Qi Chen: Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Canterbury, Private Bag 4800, Christchurch 8140, New Zealand

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/aerospace3020010
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 3, no. 2
p. 10

Abstract

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A customized vertical wind tunnel has been built by the University of Canterbury Rocketry group (UC Rocketry). This wind tunnel has been critical for the success of UC Rocketry as it allows the optimization of avionics and control systems before flight. This paper outlines the construction of the wind tunnel and includes an analysis of flow quality including swirl. A minimal modelling methodology for roll dynamics is developed that can extrapolate wind tunnel behavior at low wind speeds to much higher velocities encountered during flight. The models were shown to capture the roll flight dynamics in two rocket launches with mean roll angle errors varying from 0.26° to 1.5° across the flight data. The identified model parameters showed consistent and predictable variations over both wind tunnel tests and flight, including canard–fin interaction behavior. These results demonstrate that the vertical wind tunnel is an important tool for the modelling and control of sounding rockets.

Published in Aerospace

ISSN: 2226-4310 (Online)
Publisher: MDPI AG
Country of publisher: Switzerland
LCC subjects: Technology: Motor vehicles. Aeronautics. Astronautics
Website: http://www.mdpi.com/journal/aerospace

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