The built-in library contains a set of propellants. The custom catalog is where you can add your own formulations.
Create a propellant#
Open the Propellants tab of the Motors dashboard and select New Propellant. Define the combustion data, then name and describe the formulation. Saved entries live in your account and remain editable.
Define combustion data#
To simulate a propellant, ZenRockets needs its density and how its burn rate changes with chamber pressure. Each combustion regime provides the Saint-Robert coefficient and exponent, along with the thermochemistry for one pressure range. Add another regime when the propellant's behavior changes over a different pressure range.
- Pressure range
The chamber pressures over which this regime has been characterized.
- Burn rate
The Saint-Robert coefficient and exponent (a, n) — the pair you get from strand burner or test-motor characterization.
- Thermochemistry
Specific heat ratio (γ), combustion temperature and exhaust molar mass, as produced by tools like ProPEP.
Multiple regimes capture formulations whose exponent changes with pressure. Stack non-overlapping pressure ranges to describe each characterized region.
Current motor support#
The motor editor currently selects from the built-in propellant library; custom catalog entries do not yet appear in its picker. Editing a catalog entry also does not alter an existing motor design.