Hello everyone!
I am a third-year Mechanical Engineering student at the University of New Brunswick, also pursuing a diploma in Technology Management and Entrepreneurship (DTME), with strong interests in propulsion systems, launch vehicle design, and autonomous flight technologies.
Over the past two years, I have designed and developed multiple propulsion system components, including combustion chambers, injectors, and turbopump elements, as part of an ongoing electric pump-fed liquid rocket engine project. In parallel, I founded the UNB Rocket Engineering and Propulsion Laboratory (UREPL) and have led it as Co-President for two years. In that time, I secured over $4,000 in external funding and delivered hands-on engineering workshops.
Rocket Engineering Projects
Electric Pump-Fed Liquid Rocket Engine
Project Overview
Conducted kinematic and dynamic analysis of turbopump (500 RPM input), quantifying angular velocity (600→3000 deg/s), acceleration (480 deg/s²), and torque behavior.
Led end-to-end design of an electric pump-fed liquid rocket engine, integrating turbopump, propellant feed, injector, and nozzle systems.
Derived combustion chamber and nozzle geometry using MIT Rocket Team design methodology for LOX/RP-1 systems.
Optimized mechanical interfaces and tolerances (interference fits, bearing clearances, runout constraints) to ensure high-speed rotational stability and manufacturability; continuing refinement to establish a propulsion development foundation for UREPL.
Key Components Designed
- Turbopump — Double suction centrifugal design with spiral bevel impeller
- Combustion Chamber & Nozzle — Sized using MIT’s design methodology with LOX/RP-1 propellant
- Injector Plate — Non-impinging configuration
- Propellant Tanks — Separate fuel (RP-1) and oxidizer (LOX) tanks
- Pipe Network — Modular L-shaped and Y-junction pipes
Motion Analysis Results
| Parameter | Result |
|---|---|
| Angular Velocity | 600 → 3000 deg/s (linear) |
| Angular Acceleration | 480 deg/s² (constant) |
| Motor Torque | 1 N·mm (constant) |
Engineering Highlights
- Tolerancing: ISO h6/H7 shaft-bearing fit; cylindricity of 0.005 mm
- Manufacturing: CNC lathe, drill press, and mandrel tube bending
- Design Pivot: Adopted modular piping to overcome assembly constraints
Project Status : Completed.
Zaphod: Single-Stage Rocket (Status: Ongoing) UNB Rocket Engineering & Propulsion Laboratory (UREPL)
Key Achievements:
- Secured $3200 in funding to support Rocket Development initiatives
- Led the development of UNB’s first solid-fuel, single-stage rocket targeting a 10,000 ft apogee for the Launch Canada Challenge
- Defined system architecture, mass budget, and component selection for full vehicle integration
- Performed structural and mass analysis on rocket subsystems to validate design constraints
- Developed a high-fidelity simulation model in OpenRocket/Python to predict flight performance
- Completed a full dry-fit of the fiberglass airframe to verify component alignment and tolerances prior to permanent assembly, and established a detailed engineering timeline to govern the build sequence as hands-on integration progresses
Robotics Projects
Vortex: Autonomous Quadcopter
Key Achievements:
- Secured $900+ in grants from established organizations to support our Unmanned Aerial Robotics Project
- Actively developing an autonomous quadcopter, designed to maximize payload capacity and optimize flight endurance through efficient system integration and power management.