Search NASASearch

Engineering topics

Shi, John J.

Publications and source records attributed to Shi, John J..

Rocket Engine Nozzle Side Load Transient Analysis Methodology: A Practical Approach

During the development stage, in order to design/to size the rocket engine components and to reduce the risks, the local dynamic environments as well as dynamic interface loads must be defined. There are two kinds of dynamic environment, i.e. shock transients and steady-state random and sinusoidal vibration environments. Usually, the steady-state random and sinusoidal vibration environments are scalable, but the shock environments are not scalable. In other words, based on similarities only random vibration environments can be defined for a new engine. The methodology covered in this paper provides a way to predict the shock environments and the dynamic loads for new engine systems and new engine components in the early stage of new engine development or engine nozzle modifications.

Shi, John J.

Rocket Engine Nozzle Side Load Transient Analysis Methodology: A Practical Approach

At the sea level, a phenomenon common with all rocket engines, especially for a highly over-expanded nozzle, during ignition and shutdown is that of flow separation as the plume fills and empties the nozzle, Since the flow will be separated randomly. it will generate side loads, i.e. non-axial forces. Since rocket engines are designed to produce axial thrust to power the vehicles, it is not desirable to be excited by non-axial input forcing functions, In the past, several engine failures were attributed to side loads. During the development stage, in order to design/size the rocket engine components and to reduce the risks, the local dynamic environments as well as dynamic interface loads have to be defined. The methodology developed here is the way to determine the peak loads and shock environments for new engine components. In the past it is not feasible to predict the shock environments, e.g. shock response spectra, from one engine to the other, because it is not scaleable. Therefore, the problem has been resolved and the shock environments can be defined in the early stage of new engine development. Additional information is included in the original extended abstract.

Shi, John J.

Prediction of X-33 Engine Dynamic Environments

Rocket engines normally have two primary sources of dynamic excitation. The first source is the injector and the combustion chambers that generate wide band random vibration. The second source is the turbopumps, which produce lower levels of wide band random vibration as well as sinusoidal vibration at frequencies related to the rotating speed and multiples thereof. Additionally, the pressure fluctuations due to flow turbulence and acoustics represent secondary sources of excitation. During the development stage, in order to design/size the rocket engine components, the local dynamic environments as well as dynamic interface loads have to be defined.

Shi, John J.