OpenRocket wiki - User contributions [en]

Tube standard sizes

2022-08-23T23:11:24Z

HERSCHEL PEELER: Rocket tube standard sizes

Rocket tube standard sizes.

Newbies, like myself, find the lack of details provided by manufactures and distributors frustrating. I am working on a list of tubes (body tubes, couplers and engine tubes) for reference. It includes old stuff as well as blue tube, carbon fiber, fiberglass and phenolic stuff from BT-1 to BT-101. Large stuff is not represented since I don't anticipate ever building such things over 4".
Is there any interest in posting it here? I suspect you old experts don't need such things, but really helps me.

Herschel

Simulating with boosters

2022-08-23T22:55:32Z

HERSCHEL PEELER: Simulating with multiple engines

Newbie here, still working on my first rocket. I know nothing of simulators ... yet. My question is concerning simulations with boosters. My current project is a rocket about the size of Estes Super Big Bertha, 29 mm engine with BT-80 body, with two drop-away boosters, also 29 mm BT-60 bodies. A total of about 150 N-sec of thrust. It is about 90% completed. Can I simulate such a thing? All the simulations I have seen so far just include one engine.

Herschel

Fin calculator

2022-08-23T22:21:59Z

HERSCHEL PEELER: Useful fin calculator in Excel.

Fin calculator Excel file

For other newbies, like myself, I have created a Microsoft Excel file to help in fin design. It gives suggested fin size (in inches or cm), calculates the fin surface area for different fin shapes, gives body length for a given fin size and body diameter and a lot of general information related to fins.
Is there some way to post an Excel file here on the Wiki? Or, if anybody is interested, I can put it in text form, specifying what calculations are being done.

I am also working on a list of available fin sets from various distributors including descriptions, area, dimensions and such. Any interest? It is a good size text file. About 100 fin sets given, approximately, I've never counted them and I'm not done yet.

Herschel

Rocket booster fin size

2022-08-23T21:42:55Z

HERSCHEL PEELER: How do you calculate fin size for a rocket booster?

Rocket booster fin size

How do you calculate the suggested fin size for a rocket booster. Following the formula ((diameter plus 0.5) x length) / 6 makes no sense. For a booster 0.98" in diameter,4" long, we get about 1.9 sq inches per fin surface, 3 fins, but such boosters have fins larger that the sustainer fins. Apogee Sky Metra used as the example.

On the above formula do we divide by 6 for 3 fins (6 surfaces) or by 8 for 4 fins (8 surfaces)?

Thanks,
Herschel