Hi TRF colleagues,
Here is a theoretical question pertaining to canted engines. A presentation at the recent vNARCON 2023 got me thinking about this.
Let's say that you have two engines on exactly opposite sides of the center line of the longitudinal rocket axis and equidistant from the center line. And let's say that the two motors were both canted away from this center line at, oh, 25 degrees for each motor. Then the engine thrust of the two engines would equal the cosine of 25 degrees, and therefore the thrust would now be about 90.6 percent of the full thrust. So far, so good.
What if the two engines were canted, not away from the center line, but canted towards the center line. Would the resulting thrust be calculated the same way — that is, the cosine of 25 degrees?
Thank you for your consideration.
Stanley
Here is a theoretical question pertaining to canted engines. A presentation at the recent vNARCON 2023 got me thinking about this.
Let's say that you have two engines on exactly opposite sides of the center line of the longitudinal rocket axis and equidistant from the center line. And let's say that the two motors were both canted away from this center line at, oh, 25 degrees for each motor. Then the engine thrust of the two engines would equal the cosine of 25 degrees, and therefore the thrust would now be about 90.6 percent of the full thrust. So far, so good.
What if the two engines were canted, not away from the center line, but canted towards the center line. Would the resulting thrust be calculated the same way — that is, the cosine of 25 degrees?
Thank you for your consideration.
Stanley