I have a Loc-IV rocket that I used to obtain a level 1 certification. I was thinking about using a CTI J425 Blue Streak motor for my level 2 certification. However, I recently have been thinking about the concerns associated with using such a high thrust motor. I already purchased the motor in the spring but haven't been able to fly due to being busy with university work and the pandemic. At the time I didn't consider aeroelastic flutter and only now have been thinking about how thin the fins are and whether or not it would withstand such a flight. If it wouldn't survive a flight without much modification from the level 1 flight, then is there a way for me to avoid this issue? Is it possible for me to get another motor that's more suitable for the rocket as it is now and just set the J425 aside for a different rocket?
The construction of my Loc-IV was followed from John Coker's video on the rocket, and so I've epoxied the fin tabs to the motor mount tube and airframe well, but I don't believe that would ultimately have much of an effect on avoiding issues with aeroelastic fluttering. With the current simulations I've run in OpenRocket, if I were to fly it without much modification other than some additional work to make the nosecone more suitable for handling the shock chord and using a 42" chute instead of a 36", I would be hitting around a Mach number of 0.91, and an acceleration of 326 m/s^2, which in truth also concerns me looking in retrospect.
Thanks for your time on this. I feel like I've made some rookie mistake and just realized it before throwing myself out there and having to spend (much) more time and money rebuilding.
The construction of my Loc-IV was followed from John Coker's video on the rocket, and so I've epoxied the fin tabs to the motor mount tube and airframe well, but I don't believe that would ultimately have much of an effect on avoiding issues with aeroelastic fluttering. With the current simulations I've run in OpenRocket, if I were to fly it without much modification other than some additional work to make the nosecone more suitable for handling the shock chord and using a 42" chute instead of a 36", I would be hitting around a Mach number of 0.91, and an acceleration of 326 m/s^2, which in truth also concerns me looking in retrospect.
Thanks for your time on this. I feel like I've made some rookie mistake and just realized it before throwing myself out there and having to spend (much) more time and money rebuilding.