Multiparameter Optimization of Thrust Vector Control with Transverse Injection of a Supersonic Underexpanded Gas Jet into a Convergent Divergent Nozzle

The optimal design of the thrust vector control system of solid rocket motors (SRMs) is discussed. The injection of a supersonic underexpanded gas jet into the diverging part of the rocket engine nozzle is considered, and multiparameter optimization of the geometric shape of the injection nozzle and the parameters of jet injection into a supersonic flow is developed. The turbulent flow of viscous compressible gas in the main nozzle and injection system is simulated with the Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) equations and shear stress transport (SST) turbulence model. An optimization procedure with the automatic generation of a block-structured mesh and conjugate gradient method is applied to find the optimal parameters of the problem of interest. Optimization parameters include the pressure ratio of the injected jet, the angle of inclination of the injection nozzle to the axis of the main nozzle, the distance of the injection nozzle from the throat of the main nozzle and the shape of the outlet section of the injection nozzle. The location of injection nozzle varies from 0.1 to 0.9 with respect to the length of the supersonic part of the nozzle; the angle of injection varies from 30 to 160 degrees; and the shape of the outlet section of the injection nozzle is an ellipse with an aspect ratio that varies from 0.1 to 1. The computed fluid flow in the combustion chamber is compared with experimental and computational results. The dependence of the thrust as a function of the injection parameters is obtained, and conclusions are made about the effects of the input parameters of the problem on the thrust coefficient.

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Theoretical and Numerical Studies on the Performance of Shock Vector Control

Volume 2: Computational Fluid Dynamics ◽

10.1115/ajkfluids2019-4691 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Kexin Wu ◽

HeuyDong Kim

Keyword(s):

Experimental Data ◽

Vector Control ◽

Static Pressure ◽

Pressure Ratio ◽

Symmetry Plane ◽

Control Effect ◽

Thrust Coefficient ◽

Thrust Vector Control ◽

Pressure Distributions ◽

Thrust Vector

Abstract The transverse injection into a supersonic flow is a significant application that appeared in numerous aerodynamic applications, such as drag reduction and fluidic thrust vectoring control. Nowadays, fluidic thrust vector control is gradually replacing mechanical thrust vector control to redirect various air vehicles. Shock vector control is very popular in fluidic thrust vector control field due to lots of advantages, such as simple structure, more integrated control effect, and quick vectoring response. In present works, numerical simulations and theoretical analyses were conducted to investigate the shock vectoring performance in a three-dimensional rectangular nozzle. To validate the reliability and accuracy of the present numerical methodology, static pressure distributions along upper and lower nozzle surfaces in the symmetry plane were compared with experimental data published by NASA. It was evident that present numerical results present great approximations with experimental data. Control variables of the slot injector were studied, which not only include slot length and slot width but also contain uniform mass flow ratio and injection pressure ratio. Performance variations were illustrated clearly, such as static pressure distributions along upper and lower nozzle surfaces, deflection angle, resultant thrust coefficient, and thrust efficiency. Useful conclusions were obtained for further investigations on shock vector control.

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Numerical Study on Rod Thrust Vector Control for Physical Applications

International Journal of Aerospace Engineering ◽

10.1155/2021/6963728 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 2021 ◽

pp. 1-15

Author(s):

Dong Li ◽

Kexin Wu

Keyword(s):

Steady State ◽

Vector Control ◽

Supersonic Nozzle ◽

Control Technique ◽

Full Detail ◽

Unsteady State ◽

Flow Topology ◽

Thrust Coefficient ◽

Thrust Vector Control ◽

Thrust Vector

Mechanical thrust vector control is a classical and significant branch in the thrust vector control field, offering an extremely reliable control effect. In this article, steady-state and unsteady-state aerodynamic characteristics of the rod thrust vector control technology are numerically investigated in a two-dimensional supersonic nozzle. Complex flow phenomena caused by the penetrating rod in the diverging part of the supersonic nozzle are elucidated with the purpose of a profound understanding of this simple flow control technique for physical applications. Published experimental data are used to validate the dependability of current computational fluid dynamics results. A grid sensitivity study is carried through and analyzed. The result section discusses the impacts of two important factors on steady-state aerodynamic features, involving the rod penetration height and the rod location. Furthermore, unsteady-state flow features are analyzed under various rod penetration heights for the first time. Significant vectoring performance variations and flow topology descriptions are illuminated in full detail. While the rod penetration height increases, the vectoring angle increases, whereas the thrust coefficient decreases. As the rod location moves downstream close to the nozzle exit, the vectoring angle and thrust coefficient increase. In terms of unsteady-state aerodynamic effects, certain pressure oscillations occur upstream of the rod, which resulted from the expanding and shrinking of the upstream anticlockwise separation bubbles.

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