Design and Analysis of Solid Rocket Motor Casing

A solid rocket motor is used in missiles, spacecraft, and launch vehicles and comprises several components like propellant grain, nozzle, igniter, and the casing. This project focuses on the design and analysis of solid rocket motor casing. The reason to study the casing of the solid motor is that it is simple in design and very easy to handle. It has added advantages such as no leakage and re-usability over other rocket motors. A solid rocket motor case is a non-energy contributing component. The casing safeguards and holds the fuel for a solid-propulsion rocket motor until the motor is used. Additionally, it is constructed in accordance with ASME pressure vessel codes. There are two main materials used in rocket motor cases: metals and composites. The ease of manufacturability of metal cases gives them a slight edge of composite cases. This work aims to compare the maraging steel and carbon epoxy composite as material for the rocket motor case by comparing the results obtained from structural and thermal analysis of the case. The results are expected to show that carbon epoxy composite is a viable material that can be used to make the rocket motor case.