Best-selling classic text covering all major aspects of rocket propulsion, now updated to cover the latest industry trends
Building on the success of the previous editions, the Tenth Edition of Rocket Propulsion Elements offers a thorough introduction to the basic principles of rocket propulsion, a description of the various components of rocket propulsion systems, and an understanding of how rocket propulsion is applied to flight vehicles. The strength of the book lies in its delivery of both theory and practical applications, covering rocket propulsion for guided missiles, space flight, and satellite flight clearly and comprehensively.
This Tenth Edition includes the latest advances in the field, such as improvements in materials, systems design, applications, propellants such as chemical propellants, manufacturing technologies such as additive manufacturing, rocket-stage recovery and reuse, and new types of launch vehicles. Older system types that have fallen out of use are replaced with updated examples of systems representative of those used in the industry today. New problems are introduced in many chapters, and the book is accompanied by an online gas dynamics and two-stage flight vehicle calculator.
Rocket Propulsion Elements includes information on:
- Liquid, solid, and hybrid chemical propulsion and electric propulsion concepts, illustrated using detailed examples
- Nozzle theory and thermodynamic relations, covering isentropic flow, nozzle configurations including cone- and bell-shaped nozzles, and nozzle alignment
- Flight performance, covering launch vehicles and satellite systems, basic relations of motion, space flight maneuvers, and flight stability
- Liquid propellants, covering liquid oxidizers, fuels, and monopropellants as well as safety and environmental concerns
- Thrust chambers, propellant feed systems, and turbomachinery, covering materials, fabrication, and heat transfer analysis
- Solid propellant fundamentals, properties of energetic materials, combustion stability, and construction of solid propellant rocket motors
Rocket Propulsion Elements is an excellent learning resource for graduate and upper-level undergraduate students in the fields of mechanical and aerospace engineering taking courses related to rocket propulsion, spacecraft propulsion, or advanced space propulsion. The book is also useful for practicing engineers and scientists in aerospace related industries and research and development firms.
Table of Contents:
Preface to the 10TH Edition xv
In Memoriam George Paul Sutton (1920–2020) xvii
About the Companion Website xix
1 Classification 1
2 Definitions and Fundamentals 25
3 Nozzle Theory and Thermodynamic Relations 42
4 Flight Performance 88
5 Chemical Rocket Propellant Performance Analysis 136
6 Liquid Propellant Rocket Engine Fundamentals 165
7 Liquid Propellants 210
8 Thrust Chambers 237
9 Liquid Propellant Combustion and Its Stability 303
10 Turbopumps and Their Gas Supplies 320
11 Engine Systems, Controls, and Integration 350
12 Solid-propellant Rocket Motor Fundamentals 381
13 Solid Rocket Propellants 431
14 Solid Propellant Combustion and Its Stability 472
15 Solid Rocket Motor Components and Design 488
16 Hybrid Propellants Rocket Propulsion 523
17 Electric Propulsion 547
18 Thrust Vector Control (TVC) 591
19 Selection of Rocket Propulsion Systems 608
20 Rocket Exhaust Plumes 621
21 Rocket Testing 641
Appendix 1 Conversion Factors and Constants 655
Appendix 2 Properties of the Earth’s Standard Atmosphere 658
Appendix 3 Summary of Key Equations for Ideal Chemical Rockets 659
Appendix 4 Rockets Book Calculator 662
Index 665
About the Author :
GEORGE P. SUTTON was a consultant for the aerospace industry who served as Executive Director of Engineering at Rocketdyne (now L3Harris/Aerojet Rocketdyne) and as a Laboratory Associate at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.
OSCAR BIBLARZ is a Professor Emeritus in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at the Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, CA.
JAMES H. MOREHART is a Senior Project Leader in the Special Programs Division of The Aerospace Corporation, El Segundo, CA.
