On the Multidisciplinary Design of a Hybrid Rocket Launcher with a Composite Overwrapped Pressure Vessel

Abstract

A multidisciplinary design optimisation (MDO) study of a hybrid rocket launcher is presented, with a focus on quantifying the impact of using composite overwrapped pressure vessels (COPVs) as the oxidiser tank. The rocket hybrid propulsion system (RHPS) consists of a combination of solid fuel (paraffin) and liquid oxidiser (NOx). The oxidiser is conventionally stored in metallic vessels. Alternative design concepts involving composite-based pressure vessels are explored that could lead to significant improvements in the overall performance of the rocket. This design choice may potentially affect parameters such as total weight, thrust curve, and maximum altitude achieved. With this eventual impact in mind, structural considerations such as wall thickness for the COPV are integrated into an in-house MDO framework to conceptually optimise a hybrid rocket launcher.

Keywords

• RHSP
• MDO
• COPV
• composites
• hybrid propulsion
• rockets