BASE FLOW CHARACTERISTICS FOR SEVERAL FOURCLUSTERED ROCKET CONFIGURATIONS AT MACH NUMBERS FROM 2.0 TO 3.5

Abstract

A generalized study of base flow phenomena was conducted with four 500-pound-thrust JP-4 fuel - liquid-oxygen rocket motors installed in the base of a 12-inch-diameter cylindrical model. Data were obtained over a Mach number and nozzle pressure ratio range of 2.0 to 3.5 and 340 to 6800, respectively. Base heat flux, gas temperature, and pressure were highest in the center of the cluster core and decreased in a radial direction. Although a maximum heat flux of 93 Btu per square foot per second was measured within the cluster core, peripheral heat fluxes were low, averaging about 5 Btu per square foot per second for all configurations. Generally base heat flux was found to be independent of Mach number over the range investigated. Base heat flux within the cluster core was decreased by increasing motor spacing, motor extension, a combination of increasing nozzle area ratio and decreasing exit angle, and gimbaling the two side engines. Small amounts of nitrogen injected within the cluster core sharply reduced core heat flux. (Author)

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Dec 01, 1961
Accession Number
AD0267304

Entities

People

  • James J. Ward
  • Norman T. Musial

Organizations

  • National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Base Flow
  • Computational Fluid Dynamics
  • Engines
  • Flow
  • Heat Flux
  • Liquid Oxygen
  • Mach Number
  • Nozzle Area Ratio
  • Nozzles
  • Rocket Engines
  • Rockets

Readers

  • Aerodynamics/Aeronautics.
  • Combustion and Flow Dynamics.
  • Rocket Propulsion.

Technology Areas

  • Space
  • Space - Hall-Effect Thruster