2008 Issue

www.utahengineerscouncil.org 20 prototype, potentially viable for commercial production. The Utah State University Hybrid Rocket Senior Design Project The experimental hybrid rocketry pro- gram at Utah State University has been in existence for approximately 15 years. At USU the hybrid rocket motor, using nitrous oxide as the liquid oxidizer and separate solid fuel grain composed of rubber (HTPB) or plastic (PVC) has been the preferred device. The hybrid motor is ideal for university environments due to the non-toxicity of the propellants and the low risk of explosion or detonation. The program at USU offers a unique opportunity for both undergradu- ate and graduate students to gain hands on design, fabrication and testing experience. This program allows students to progress through multiple levels of sophistication and progression. Underclass students at USU can first gain exposure to rocketry principals through the amateur rocketry club. This club introduces the students to basic rocket principals and allows them to participate in University of Utah Cargo Plane Student Project The AIAA Undergraduate/Graduate Design/Build/Fly Competition sponsored by Cesna, challenges university students to com- plete a working remote-control airplane with cargo carrying capabilities. All teams must present their design and project report in Wichita, Kansas to be reviewed by judges. The University of Utah has entered one team in the competition, and looks forward to successfully flying their airplane. The design/build/fly process will take place over the course of one academic year, which began August 2007 and will finish April 2008. The students are being supervised and advised by University faculty, and have to make several presentations and reports to be assessed throughout the development of the airplane. The University of Utah student group is excited to participate, and has set a goal to win the competition. After presenting a proposal for funding to the AIAA Utah Section, the team looks forward to receiving additional funds for the project. Funding has already been provided by the University in the amount of $1100. University of Utah Ornithopter Student Project Ornithopters have been designed by previous senior classes at the University of Utah. The team’s work included concept generation and selection, detailed design of an X-wing style ornithopter, construction of an initial prototype, collection of a large amount of test data for various wing profiles, and revision of the initial prototype leading to a successful ornithopter. Tasks and develop- ments to be continued in this year’s project include additional testing to further optimize the wing profile and stiffening spars, development of a custom gear train to replace an off-the-shelf planetary gearbox and improve efficiency and power capacity, improvement of the wing mechanism to increase efficiency and the life of key parts, and increasing the thrust- to-weight ratio, thereby enabling hovering and increased payload capacity (for electronic controls and communication devices used for controlling flight). This year’s ornithopter team will synthesize the designs of the previ- ous team with revisions allowing for greater efficiency and payload capacity. Through the use of the design guidelines provided by their advisors, the U of U ornithopter project will result in a very sturdy and simple Numerical simulation of airflow around a cargo airplane An X-wing ornithopter AIAA UTAH STUDENT CHAPTER PROJECTS continued on page 22 The University of Utah student group is excited to participate, and has set a goal to win the competition.