Look Who it Was Random video

1st sucsessful test ignition of my Alpha Motor

235 views · Published 29 August 2012 · 0:23 · Indexed 28 September 2026

Channel: shriramvenu · 2012 · Science & Technology

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DONT STAND SO CLOSE TO THE MOTOR WHEN TEST FIRING!!

What I did was very dangerous as I was standing quite close to the engine such that i could potentially be injured if it exploded!! (However it was buried in sand and I had successfully fired similar motor configurations to give me faith in the structural integrity - but its still dangerous!)\

I apologise for the shaky and poor video quality - taken with my phone with one hand while trying to join the leads of the electrical igniter.

Burn time is approximately 8 seconds and some simulations based on estimates of the design max thrust is around 400N and estimating that this prototype is in the J class of solid rocket motors.

fuel is a 65/35 KNO3/sorbitol mixture with some anhydrous iron oxide as a catalyst. 

The body is made from thick PVC piping and a 30-12 (degree) convergent-divergent nozzle is made out of cement.

As you can see the nozzle is quite underexpanded and I estimate the thrust is insufficient to drive my proposed rocket.

In my next video I will properly record with a camcorder an improved design sporting a better nozzle and longer chamber for increased thrust. It will be a proper static engine test and I will publish construction details as well as simulation and experimental data.

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