Vehicle performance optimization utilizing the air turbo-ramjet propulsion system: Methodology development and applications

The ATR (Air TurboRocket) is an air breathing propulsion system in which the turbocompressor turbine is powered by a hot drive gas which is generated independently of the air flow through the compressor. The ATR has a lower specific impulse (Isp) and higher thrust compared to a similar size turbojet but a lower thrust and higher Isp compared to similar size solid rocket motor (SRM). This work defines the benefits of ATR propulsion for tactical vehicles.; ATR simulation codes were developed to support analysis of hypothetical ATR powered vehicles. Both turbojet powered and SRM powered vehicles were also evaluated against range and time of flight as the major evaluation criteria. This analysis required the use of an existing turbojet code, a solid rocket motor (SRM) model, an aerodynamics predictor code (DATCOM) and a two dimensional, flat earth trajectory analysis code (ZTRAJ). Two weight class vehicles (800 and 3500 lb{dollar}sb{lcub}rm m{rcub}{dollar}) launched at Mach 0.9 and 10000 feet altitude were evaluated as well as a low Mach (0.1) launch of the 800 lb{dollar}sb{lcub}rm m{rcub}{dollar} class vehicle. These vehicles, with the three propulsion system options, required nine vehicle/trajectory analyses.; The results of these analyses show that only the ATR powered vehicle is able to simultaneously meet minimum range and maximum flight time requirements. The SRM powered vehicle (because of its low Isp) only achieves about 50% of the range of the ATR powered vehicle. The turbojet powered vehicle (because of its low thrust) required more than 30% of the flight time required by the ATR powered vehicle for the same range.