Numerical investigation of overexpanded nozzle flows

The flow in a planar overexpanded nozzle with a slope discontinuity is studied numerically by means of two- (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes simulations and is compared to experimental results. The nozzle pressure ratios (NPR) vary from 1.6 to 10. A good agreement is found between experimental and numerical results and two configurations are observed: under a certain critical NPR, the flow is shown to be asymmetrical with respect to the nozzle axis, while it is perfectly symmetrical for higher NPRs. The value of the critical NPR is found to be very dependent on the turbulence model. Finally, an hysteresis phenomenon is evidenced since the NPR at which the change of flow configuration occurs is different whether the NPR is increasing or decreasing in the nozzle.     

Aeroelastic stability analysis of flexible overexpanded rocket nozzle

The aim of this paper is to present a new aeroelastic stability model taking into account the viscous effects for a supersonic nozzle flow in overexpanded regimes. This model is inspired by the Pekkari model which was developed initially for perfect fluid flow. The new model called the “Modified Pekkari Model” (MPM) considers a more realistic wall pressure profile for the case of a free shock separation inside the supersonic nozzle using the free interaction theory of Chapman. To reach this objective, a code for structure computation coupled with aerodynamic excitation effects is developed that allows the analysis of aeroelastic stability for the overexpanded nozzles. The main results are presented in a comparative manner using existing models (Pekkari model and its extended version) and the modified Pekkari model developed in this work.     

Numerical investigation of hypersonic nozzle flows at high reynolds numbers

The direct problem of viscous gas flow in a hypersonic nozzle of given geometry is solved on the basis of simplified Navier-Stokes equations. At a stagnation pressure of the order of several thousands of atmospheres, a compressibility factor is introduced into the equation of state. The gasdynamic parameter profiles and the Mach number distribution along the nozzle axis are obtained. The results of earlier calculations of profiled nozzles are revised. Novosibirsk. Translated from Izvestiya Rossiiskoi Akademii Nauk, Mekhanika Zhidkosti i Gaza, No. 1, pp. 161–164, January–February, 1999.     

Semiempirical method of calculating overexpanded turbulent separated flow in a conical laval nozzle

A mathematical model of separated nozzle flow is developed. The model takes into account the effect of the boundary layer and the pressure variation over the entire separation zone inside the nozzle. The effect of the geometric and gas dynamic factors on the separated flow pattern is investigated numerically.Translated from Izvestiya Akademii Nauk SSSR, Mekhanika Zhidkosti i Gaza, No. 6, pp. 60–66, November–December, 1988.     

Delayed detached eddy simulation of the end-effect regime and side-loads in an overexpanded nozzle flow

The separated flow in an overexpanded nozzle featuring a restricted shock separation is investigated numerically using delayed detached eddy simulation and compared with the experimental data of Nguyen et al. (Int J Flow Turbul Combust 71(1):161–181, 2003). First, the enormous cost of a Large Eddy Simulation for such a nozzle flow is assessed before being performed to motivate the practical need for using an hybrid RANS/LES method. The calculation is then used to investigate the “end-effect” regime which involves a strong global unsteadiness with very large amplitude fluctuations of about 15–20% of nozzle divergent length. The flow regime is characterized by high wall pressure fluctuations which are hopefully nearly axisymmetric. The main properties (rms levels, amplitude of displacement of the separation) of the motion are rather well reproduced by DDES compared to the experiment. However, a major difference lies in the frequency of the computed motion which is higher than in the experiment. This major discrepancy is currently not explained by the author. The properties of the side-loads are also briefly discussed.      

Two-way coupled simulation of a flow laden with metallic particulates in overexpanded TIC nozzle

A simulation of non-reacting dilute gas–solid flow in a truncated ideal contour nozzle with consideration of external stream interactions is performed. The Eulerian–Lagrangian approach involving a two-way momentum and thermal coupling between gas and particles phases is also adopted. Of interests are to investigate the effects of particles diameter and mass flow fraction on the flow pattern, Mach number, pressure and temperature contours and their distributions along the nozzle centerline and wall. The main goal is to determine the separation point quantitatively when the particles characteristics change. Particles sample trajectories are illustrated throughout the flow field and a qualitative discussion on the way that physical properties of the nozzle exit flow and particles trajectories oscillate is prepared. The existence of solid particulates delays the separation prominently in the cases studied. The bigger particles and the higher particles mass flow fractions respectively advance and delay the separation occurrence. The particles trajectories oscillate when they expose to the crisscrossing (or diamond-shape) shock waves generated outside the nozzle to approach the exit jet conditions to the ambient. The simulation code is validated and verified, respectively, against a one-phase 2D convergent–divergent nozzle flow and a two-phase Jet Propulsion Laboratory nozzle flow, and acceptable agreements are achieved.     

Shock structure in separated nozzle flows

In the case of high overexpansion, the exhaust jet of the supersonic nozzle of rocket engines separates from nozzle wall because of the large adverse pressure gradient. Correspondingly, to match the pressure of the separated flow region, an oblique shock is generated which evolves through the supersonic jet starting approximately at the separation point. This shock reflects on the nozzle axis with a Mach reflection. Thus, a peculiar Mach reflection takes place whose features depend on the upstream flow conditions, which are usually not uniform. The expected features of Mach reflection may become much difficult to predict, depending on the nozzle shape and the position of the separation point along the divergent section of the nozzle.      

Numerical aspects of calculation of confined swirling flows with internal recirculation

Predictions were performed for two different confined swirling flows with internal recirculation zones. The convection terms in the elliptic governing equations were discretized using three different finite differencing schemes: hybrid, quadratic upwind interpolation and skew upwind differencing. For each flow case, calculations were carried out with these schemes and successively refined grids were employed. For the turbulent flow case the k-ε turbulence model was used. The predicted cases were a laminar swirling flow investigated by Bornstein and Escudier, and a turbulent low-swirl case studied by Roback and Johnson. In both cases an internal recirculation zone was present. The laminar case is well predicted when account is taken of the estimated radial velocity component at the chosen inlet plane. The quadratic upwind interpolation and skew upwind schemes predict the main features of the internal recirculation zone also with a coarse grid. The turbulent case is well predicted with the coarse as well as the finer grids, the skew upwind and quadratic upwind interpolation schemes yielding results very close to the measurements. It is concluded that the skew upwind scheme reaches grid independence slightly before the quadratic upwind scheme, both considerably earlier than the hybrid scheme.     

Differential characteristics of the flow field in a plane overexpanded jet in the vicinity of the nozzle lip

A method of theoretical investigation of the flow field in a two-dimensional (plane-parallel or axisymmetric) overexpanded jet of an ideal perfect gas in the vicinity of the nozzle lip is described. The changes in curvature of the shock wave emanating from the lip, as well as the shock-wave intensity and flow parameters behind the shock are analyzed as functions of the Mach number, pressure ratio in the plane jet, and ratio of specific heats of the gas. __________ Translated from Prikladnaya Mekhanika i Tekhnicheskaya Fizika, Vol. 47, No. 3, pp. 72–83, May–June, 2006.     

Numerical investigation of nonequilibrium flows of mixtures of fusible metal particles and gases in a laval nozzle

There are numerous papers [1–11] on the determination of the parameters of condensed oxide particles which are formed during combustion of metallized fuels. The ambiguity, and sometimes the contradictoriness, of the test results obtained [3–5, 9–11] indicate the difficulties in conducting correct experimental investigations. In this connection, numerical studies using mixtures of calibrated liquid-metal particles and different gases are of practical interest. Different probes can be calibrated by using calibrated two-phase flows, the two-phase flow around models and probes can be studied, as can the interaction between liquid-metal particles and the front of an aerodynamic compression shock, their intrusion in different entraining media, the interaction between fine particles (particle-projectiles) and large size particles (particle-targets), etc. In many cases, the prehistory of the flow and the parameters of the gas mixture with the particles in the area of the nozzle exit section must be known to investigate the above-mentioned phenomena. The parameters of different nonequilibrium flows of mixtures of gallium particles and gases in a Laval nozzle are investigated numerically in this paper; the maximum diameter (upper boundary of the spectrum) of the particles (d_s = 30 ) which are not destroyed in the nozzle under the effect of the aerodynamic forces and are suitable for use in a calibrated two-phase stream is determined. The computations were carried out in a one-dimensional approximation according to [12–14].Translated from Zhurnal Prikladnoi Mekhaniki i Tekhnicheskoi Fiziki, No. 2, pp. 86–91, March–April, 1976.The authors are grateful to V. K. Starkov and U. G. Pirumov for discussing the results of the research and to N. M. Alekseev for aid in constructing the graphs.     

A numerical investigation of side‐loads resulting from rigid body motions of an overexpanded engine nozzle

A numerical model for fluid–structure interactions is presented. Its purpose, within the context of 2D overexpanded engine nozzles, is to improve understanding of interactions between side‐loads and rigid body rotations, and more generally of the underlying physics between a shock in motion and nozzle movements. The model is based on three different solvers, for fluid, structure and mesh deformation respectively, which are linked to a coupling scheme in a parallel environment. In particular it is shown that the nozzle has a natural torsional frequency for which the measured side‐loads are the greatest. This phenomenon is associated with a transversal wave in the flow between the two internal walls of the nozzle. For free coupling cases, our calculations go some way to explain how the mechanical energy is dissipated with a transfer of energy to the shock that encounters the largest motions to dissipate it. It has also been observed that the compression shock may adopt a quasi‐steady state response with regard to nozzle rotations at low frequencies, whereas this will no longer be the case at higher frequencies, where a phase shift may occur between side‐loads and rotational position. This study is aimed at enhancing the only current aeroelastic stability model for overexpanded nozzles (AIAA, 29th Joint Propulsion Conference and Exhibit, Monterey, CA, 28–30 June 1993). Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Numerical simulations of nozzle starting process

The starting process of two-dimensional nozzle flow is investigated both experimentally and numerically. Discussions are made on the comparison between experimental and numerical results. Performances of two numerical methods which are used in the present study of unsteady flow problem are also discussed and indications for future development of numerical tools to study nozzle problems are obtained. Received 16 June 1998 / Accepted 17 August 1998     

Numerical investigation of transient nozzle flow

Abstract. The starting process of two-dimensional and axisymmetric nozzle flows has been investigated numerically. Special attention has been paid to the early phase of the starting process and to the appearance of a strong secondary shock wave. For both cases, shock intensities and velocities are obtained and discussed. The flow evolution in the axisymmetric case is proved to be more complex and the transient starting process is slower than in the plane case. Finally, the effects of changing the nozzle angle and the incident shock wave Mach number on the transient flow are addressed. It is shown that a faster start-up can be induced either by decreasing the nozzle angle or increasing the Mach number of the incident shock wave. Received 16 November 2001 / Accepted 24 September 2002 / Published online 4 December 2002 Correspondence to:A.-S. Mouronval (e-mail: mouronv@coria.fr)     

Experimental analysis of unsteady separated flows in a supersonic planar nozzle

The unsteady aspects of shock-induced-separation patterns have been investigated inside a Mach 2 planar nozzle. The mean location of the shock can vary by changing, relatively to the nozzle throat, the height of the second throat which is positioned downstream of the square test section. This study focuses on the wall pressure fluctuations spectra and the unsteady behaviour of the shock. Symmetric shock configurations appear both for the largest openings of the second throat, and for the smallest openings. For an intermediate opening the shock system exhibits asymmetrical configurations. A coating with roughnesses sticked on the throat part of the nozzle in order to modify the state of the incoming boundary layers (from smooth to rought turbulent statement) is a driver for the asymmetry. The fluctuating displacements of the shock patterns were analysed by using an ultra fast shadowgraph visualization technique. A spectral analysis of the unsteady wall pressure measurements has revealed low frequency phenomena governed by large structure dynamics in the separated flows. Communicated by K. Takayama PACS 02.60.Cb; 05.10.Ln; 47.11.+j; 47.15.Cb; 47.40.Nm     

A random simulation of droplet distribution in nozzle and plume flows

A simple entrainment model is used to estimate droplet streamlines, velocity and mass flux in rocket exhaust plumes. Since droplet mass flux constitutes only about 1% of the exhaust mass flux, the effect of droplet entrainment on the gas flow is neglected. The novelty of the present model is in obtaining the droplet distribution within the nozzle by assuming a small radial random velocity component for droplets at the throat. Gas flow in the nozzle is approximated as isentropic plus a correction for the boundary layer. The computed distribution of droplet mass flux is found to be in good agreement with experimental data. Received 15 January 1996 / Accepted 11 September 1996