Shepard Test Stand

h1. Shepheard Test Stand Requirements Document v1.2:

Revised: 2012-05-14 12:47 CDT

This requirements document is currently being discussed on the forums "here":https://opendesignengine.net/boards/4/topics/72. 

This is how the requirements list matches up to the Initial Questions in step one of the Systems Engineering process. Each requirement is labeled with STSR (Shepard Test Stand Requirement), followed by the number of the "initial question":https://opendesignengine.net/projects/shepard-ts/wiki/Initial_Questions_v1_0 that the requirement corresponds to, followed by a dot and then the ID number of the requirement.

*STSR 1.x* - Why are we making this?

*STSR 2.x* - Who is this for?

*STSR 3.x* - How will this be used?

*STSR 4.x* - What features does it need to have (now)?

*STSR 5* - What features does it need to have (later)?

*STSR 6.x* - What are the legacy requirements?

*STSR 7.x* - Who's going to build this?

*STSR 8.x* - How many do we want to make?

*STSR 9.x* - What is the budget?

*STSR 10.x* - What is the timeline?

*STSR 11.x* - What waste products will be produced by the manufacture and/or operation of this?

h3. Technical Requirements:

*STSR 1.1* The STS must accommodate low power, commercially available amateur rocket motors sized A through E.

*STSR 1.2* The STS must be mobile enough to enable live demonstrations as part of educational and outreach activities.

* *STSR 1.2.1* The STS total weight shall be less than 25 lbs. or be able to break into components that weigh no more than 25 lbs each (based on OSHA recommendations).

* *STSR 1.2.2* The STS must be transportable by 1 person.

*STSR 3.1* The design and operation of the STS shall be conducted in compliance with "The National Association of Rocketry (NAR) Standards & Testing Committee Motor Testing Manual, Version 1.5, Effective Date: July 1, 2011":http://www.nar.org/SandT/docs/ST-MotorTestingManual.pdf, henceforth referred to as the NAR testing manual. 

*STSR 3.2* The STS must be useful for the verification of Estes thrust vs time "motor performance data":http://estes.aptinet.com/images/page%2033.pdf.

* *STSR 3.2.1* Sampling frequency requirement <-- i thought i remembered seeing this in the NAR manual, but dont have time to go back and check now...

* *STSR 3.2.2* <--What else does it mean to be useful?

*STSR 3.3* The STS must be able to record exhaust temperature vs time of Estes motors and transport that data to a laptop computer.

* *STSR 3.3.1* sampling frequency requirement <-- again, could be the same or different from the thrust sampling rate.  

*STSR 4.1* The STS shall be easily set up and torn down for demonstration purposes.

* *STSR 4.1.1* unpack and set up time should be less than 45 min.

* *STSR 4.1.2* clean up and storage time should be less than 90 min.

*STSR 4.2* The STS shall be easy to package for shipment to any event at which it will be used meaning the whole test stand system shall fit in the backseat of a standard 4-door sedan.

*STSR 4.3* The STS shall provide a stable base on which to test model rocket motors.  <-- I’m unclear about what this requirement means.  What kind of “stability” are we talking about?  

*STSR 4.4* The STS shall keep an accurate timestamp for each data point collected during the test. <-- How accurate do we need it to be?

*STSR 4.5* In accordance with (IAW) NAR testing manual requirements specified in Section 8.5, the STS shall use a “load cell calibrated with a NIST traceable weight standard”. 1

*STSR 4.6* In accordance with (IAW) NAR testing manual requirements specified in Section 8.5, the STS shall use a data collection system “where the least significant bit (LSB) has a value that is” 0.006 lbs (“less than 0.33% percent of the average thrust of the motor under test”). 1

*STSR 6.1* Any desktop computer based control software for the STS should run on all three major PC platforms (MS Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux).

*STSR 6.2* The STS must use standard connections to the computer running the control software (for example, USB, Ethernet, or similar connections).

*STSR 7.1* All STS design documentation must be open and complete enough so that ANYONE, without necessarily a technical education in rocketry, propulsion, or engineering, would be able to build and operate the test stand.

*STSR 8.2* Whenever and wherever possible, considerations should be made so that the design of this STS can be used as a kit in the future.

*STSR 11.4* Wherever possible, the STS design should make it as easy as possible to replace components which are consumable or relatively easy to damage.

h3. Project Requirements:

*STSR 2.1* The STS must be well documented so as to meet the needs of open source spaceflight designers who will design and build future test stands (at Mach 30 and elsewhere).

*STSR 2.2* The STS documentation and procedures must be complete enough that Mach 30 operators, students and educators who want to bring rocket engineering into the classroom, and anyone else interested in how rockets are tested can learn how to use it.

*STSR 2.3* The STS documentation must cover the engine testing procedure from test stand setup, to running tests, and ending with stowing the test stand.

*STSR 3.4* The STS shall be operated in accordance with (IAW) the safety procedures which are outlined in Section 8 of the NAR testing manual.

*STSR 8.1* The design of the STS must enable the completion of at least one operational test stand.

*STSR 9.1* The cost of the first operational STS must not exceed $200 excluding "consumables" and tools.

*STSR 10.1* If at all possible, the STS should be completed within 3 months of formal launch as an exercise in agile design.

*STSR 11.1* Disposal of the spent Estes motors should conform to all local, state, and federal guidelines.

*STSR 11.2* Electronic waste items, including batteries and circuit boards, must also be disposed of according to all local, state, and federal guidelines.

*STSR 11.3* If the frame of the STS is damaged beyond repair during operation, proper disposal/recycling guidelines must be followed for the materials used in its construction.

h3. Future V2.0 Requirements:

These are for reference only so that future features can be accommodated in the current design where practical.

Version 2.0:

*STSR 5.1* High and low speed video capture of the tests from multiple angles.

*STSR 5.2* Integrated ignition system so the test management software can control the entire test.

*STSR 5.3* Additional measurements.

*STSR 5.4* Higher resolution measurements.

Beyond Version 2.0 (Accommodation of):

*STSR 5.5* High power commercial solid motors.

*STSR 5.6* Small hybrid motors (on the thrust scale of high power commercial solid motors).

*STSR 5.7* Larger thrust hybrid motors.

*STSR 5.8* Small liquid engines.

*STSR 5.9* Medium liquid engines.

*STSR 5.10* Large liquid engines.

h3. Glossary:

NAR - National Association of Rocketry

STS - Shepard Test Stand

STSR - Shepard Test Stand Requirement