Apogee Measurement of a Polyvinyl Chloride Rocket Using a Sugar Composite Propellant and Open Source Computer Rocket Simulation Software

Abstract

The Bokoharam insurgency against the Nigerian State and the Nigerian Military effort at Counter insurgency operation, is a catalyst for this research, in to the apogee flight measurement of a locally constructed polyvinyl rocket with a sugar composite propellant, using an open source computer simulation software. The weight and dimensions of the locally constructed rocket with the dimensions and weights of 3 BATES propellant grains was imputed in to the open rocket computer software, creating a 3 Dimension model of the rocket. A simulation for peak altitude was initiated and an apogee of 729 meters was obtained. The result shows a potential application in infantry rocketry for close quarter battles.