How Missile ballast stability works?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the concept of missile ballast stability, particularly in the context of launching missiles from water. Participants explore various aspects of missile dynamics, control systems, and the specific challenges associated with maintaining stability during launch. The conversation includes theoretical considerations, practical applications, and design challenges related to missile stability.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested
  • Homework-related
  • Mathematical reasoning

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions how ballast stability works when launching a missile from water, noting the difference in scale between ship ballast systems and missile designs.
  • Another participant suggests that missiles do not typically carry ballast and that the forces involved in launching are minimal compared to the ship's weight.
  • Some participants discuss the importance of inertia and the need for a dynamic model that accounts for buoyancy and hydrodynamics during launch.
  • There is mention of specific missile projects, such as Sea Dragon and Seabee, and inquiries about the advantages of underwater launches compared to traditional methods.
  • One participant emphasizes their focus on the dynamics of missile ballast rather than the entire system, seeking detailed calculations related to stability and pressure during launch.
  • Concerns are raised about the lack of data and the need for computer modeling to explore various assumptions regarding ballast distribution.
  • Participants express skepticism about the promotional language used to describe the missile launch concept, comparing it to existing submarine launch methods.
  • Several requests for assistance with calculations and stability assessments are made, indicating a need for collaborative input on the project.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the specifics of missile ballast stability, with multiple competing views and uncertainties expressed throughout the discussion. Some participants challenge each other's assumptions and seek clarification on various points.

Contextual Notes

Limitations include the absence of specific missile data, unresolved mathematical steps related to stability calculations, and varying assumptions about the dynamics of the ballast system. The discussion also reflects a range of expertise among participants, which may affect the depth of technical contributions.

Who May Find This Useful

Students and researchers interested in missile dynamics, aerospace engineering, and fluid dynamics may find this discussion relevant, particularly those working on projects related to missile stability and launch systems.

Zahid
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launching a missile from the water, how the ballast stability works?
 
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Have you considered trying a simple internet search for "ship ballast stabilization"?
 
yes, i m working on that, but i feel like ship have big ballast system compare to missile which is 1m diameter, also i would need some exact work on, missile stability
 
Zahid said:
launching a missile from the water, how the ballast stability works?
Zahid said:
yes, i m working on that, but i feel like ship have big ballast system compare to missile which is 1m diameter, also i would need some exact work on, missile stability
Welcome to the PF.

Your question does not make sense as you have asked it. Could you please provide a lot more detail and some sketches of what you are asking?

Missiles do not carry ballast. And ships that launch missiles would generally not need to do anything with their ballast when launching missiles, since the reaction forces involved in the launch are a tiny fraction of the weight of the ship.

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/59/d9/29/59d9293c7f45df8e0c5a0951f2f8d0cb.jpg
59d9293c7f45df8e0c5a0951f2f8d0cb.jpg
 
yes, you are right but what i m working on is totally different thing, have you heard about sea dragon or seabee or if you could visit to www.rippleaerospace.com
here you will see the missile launch. what i want to work is on the `Missile control system and ballast stability``

thank you very much.
 
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Are you designing a weapon to attack the USA?

The reference you provided says that the missile is underwater only 2 seconds after launch.

Inertia will be an important factor, perhaps the dominant factor. You need a dynamic model, including the spatial distribution of buoyancy, and including the hydrodynamics of the water passing over the outside shell at a pretty good speed. That is not simple. The data you need from real missiles is probably classified.

Do you have access to the missile data and dynamic computer models?
 
Haha, No access to any data. just working on a university project.
 
Zahid said:
yes, you are right but what i m working on is totally different thing, have you heard about sea dragon or seabee or if you could visit to www.rippleaerospace.com
here you will see the missile launch. what i want to work is on the `Missile control system and ballast stability``
I only read a little at the link. Why do they use that technique to launch the missile? It seems like it would be much easier to just launch it from a small boat that is towed by the ship. What advantage is there to having it in the water held upright by a ballast before launch?
 
berkeman said:
I only read a little at the link. Why do they use that technique to launch the missile? It seems like it would be much easier to just launch it from a small boat that is towed by the ship. What advantage is there to having it in the water held upright by a ballast before launch?

That's a question for a sailor.:wink:

For many consecutive days, seas can be too rough to have a rocket free standing vertically without toppling and /or spoiling the launch angle.

If you bolt it to the deck, it could capsize the boat because the c.g. is too high.
 
  • #10
Zahid said:
Haha, No access to any data. just working on a university project.

If you have no data, then make a computer model and run a range of cases covering a range of assumptions about ballast distribution.

With only 2 seconds underwater, even an unstable ballast distribution may not tip enough to ruin the launch. It takes time to tip.
 
  • #11
its not important that i have to do all what is in that website, but that is just an example.
 
  • #12
my focus area is `Dynamics of Missile ballast`, not the whole System.
 
  • #13
It appears that they intend for the rocket to be buoyant for towing to the launch site and if it is to be towed then the longitudinal buoyancy cg must be in the center of the rocket length so they require a ballast to hold it vertical for launch.

At the same time I have rarely seen so much technobabble to promote a concept that is not very different from the method used for launching rockets and ICBM's from submarines, where the rockets are ejected vertically from the submarines before firing.
 
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  • #14
can anybody help me? I am in critical condition
 
  • #15
Zahid said:
can anybody help me? I am in critical condition

Help you how?
 
  • #17
the rocket is layed in th water, we fill the ballast with water to upheld(stand) the rocket.
Rocket Specifications:
Length: 7m
Weight: 602 kg
Diameter: 0.52 m
the length of the ballast is 2m
the rocket is two stage rocket.
the Ballast have 5 chambers for water to fill in.
how much water is need in the ballast to make the rocket stand?
what is rocket stability calculations during standing and launch?
how much pressure is released during the launch?
and other specification related to the dynamics of the ballast system
thank you in advance, anybody can give detail.
 
  • #18
You don't expect us to do the whole project for you, do you?

Please show us what calculations you have done so far.
 
  • #19
i have completed the theory part
now need to work on the calculations, also did design and simulations.
but not yet how to calculate the stability in the water, the behaviour of the surounding(wind and water wave) during tilting an standing( the angle of heel).
 
  • #20
Zahid said:
i have completed the theory part
now need to work on the calculations, also did design and simulations.
but not yet how to calculate the stability in the water, the behaviour of the surounding(wind and water wave) during tilting an standing( the angle of heel).
Show us your work or this schoolwork project thread or it will be closed. Do the work please and show us.
 
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