EFFECTS OF INTERNAL MASS FLOW ON THE ATTITUDE DYNAMICS OF VARIABLE MASS SYSTEMS

摘要

The fluid products of combustion that result from propellant burn in rocket-type variable mass systems can take on helical or whirling motion as they exit the system. This fact is normally ignored in the study of the dynamics of variable mass systems. This paper assesses the difference that proper accounting of such helical motion of fluid particles can make on the attitude dynamics of rocket systems. Results obtained show that internal fluid whirling motion can cause appreciable deviations in spin rate predictions, and also affects the frequencies of the transverse angular velocity components.