Thrust Vectoring of a Fixed Axisymmetric Supersonic Nozzle Using the Shock-Vector Control Method

The application of the Shock Vector Control (SVC) approach to an axysimmetric supersonic nozzle is studied numerically. SVC is a Fluidic Thrust Vectoring (FTV) strategy that is applied to fixed nozzles in order to realize jet-vectoring effects normally obtained by deflecting movable nozzles. In the SVC method, a secondary air flow injection close to the nozzle exit generates an asymmetry in the wall pressure distribution and side-loads on the nozzle, which are also lateral components of the thrust vector. SVC forcing of the axisymmetric nozzle generates fully three-dimensional flows with very complex structures that interact with the external flow. In the present work, the experimental data on a nozzle designed and tested for a supersonic cruise aircraft are used for validating the numerical tool at different flight Mach numbers and nozzle pressure ratios. Then, an optimal position for the slot is sought and the fully 3D flow at flight Mach number M∞=0.9 is investigated numerically for different values of the SVC forcing.

Interaction of a liquid jet with a co-current gas flow inside the nozzle and under ejection into vacuum

The structure of a gas-droplet flow arising under gas outflow with liquid jet injected into it from a supersonic nozzle into vacuum is studied experimentally. Possibility of the flow structure control in order to obtain droplets of a certain size, composition, and velocity, is considered. The liquid was injected into the co-current gas flow in the prechamber of the supersonic nozzle and then flowed out into the vacuum chamber in the form of a gas-droplet jet. Using the developed technique of droplet deposition on paper substrates, the effect of the Reynolds number of the gas and the pressure in the vacuum chamber on the angular distribution of droplet phase behind the nozzle exit is investigated.

Evaluation of Injection Strategies in Supersonic Nozzle Flow

The ability to manipulate shock patterns in a supersonic nozzle flow with fluidic injection is investigated numerically using Large Eddy Simulations. Various injector configurations in the proximity of the nozzle throat are screened for numerous injection pressures. We demonstrate that fluidic injection can split the original, single shock pattern into two weaker shock patterns. For intermediate injection pressures, a permanent shock structure in the exhaust can be avoided. The nozzle flow can be manipulated beneficially to increase thrust or match the static pressure at the discharge. The shock pattern evolution of injected stream is described over various pressure ratios. We find that the penetration depth into the supersonic crossflow is deeper with subsonic injection. The tight arrangement of the injectors can provoke additional counter-rotating vortex pairs in between the injection.

Numerical Study on Rod Thrust Vector Control for Physical Applications

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.