Performance Characteristics of Clustered Nozzles

Abstract

This is an experimental evaluation of the thrust performance of 3 sets of clustered, three-dimensional, converging-diverging, cold flow supersonic nozzles. A cluster of 2, 4 and 6 nozzles were designed and fabricated. Each cluster assembly has the same geometry in that their area ratio, expansion ratio, and total throat area is the same. A single nozzle with the same geometry and total throat area was used to evaluate the creditability of the testing procedure and the performance of the 3 sets of clustered nozzles. The thrust performance of each nozzle cluster was evaluated by comparison of the measured thrust coefficient of the cluster to that of a single nozzle. The nozzle with the highest thrust coefficient was the cluster of 2 nozzles. Its performance was closely followed by the cluster of 4 nozzles. The nozzle with the lowest thrust coefficient was the cluster of 6 nozzles. The results of this study indicate that the clustering of nozzles improves the thrust performance. (Author)

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Dec 01, 1981
Accession Number
ADA111130

Entities

People

  • David V. Hibson

Organizations

  • Air Force Institute of Technology

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Assembly
  • Clustering
  • Engines
  • Error Analysis
  • Flow Rate
  • Geometry
  • Instrumentation
  • Mass Flow
  • Measurement
  • Nozzle Clusters
  • Nozzles
  • Pressure Transducers
  • Rocket Engines
  • Strain Gages
  • Supersonic Nozzles
  • Variable Resistors

Readers

  • Combustion and Flow Dynamics.
  • Molecular Photonics/Laser Physics

Technology Areas

  • Hypersonics
  • Hypersonics - Hypersonic Flow