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Temperature measurements in supersonic nozzles for hydrogen-air and methane-air combustion products at stagnation temperatures up to 5,400 degrees rankine and pressures up to 4.5 atmospheres
The objective of this paper is to compute the expansion of a supersonic flow through an internal-external nozzle and its viscous mixing with the hypersonic flow of air. The supersonic jet may be that of a multispecies gas other than air. Calculations are performed for one case where both flows are those of air, and another case where a mixture of freon-12 and argon is discharged supersonically to mix with the hypersonic airflow. Comparisons are made between these two cases with respect to gas compositions, and fixed versus flow-adaptive grids. All the computational results are compared successfully with the wind-tunnel tests results.
Aerodynamics of air inlet and propulsion nozzle of hypersonic aircraft
The present analysis was carried out to estimate the heating levels of the external nozzle of a scramjet/airframe-integrated research aircraft. A parametric examination of the effects of Mach number, reference length, and wall temperature showed that the heating rate distributions are independent of reference length and wall temperature. The initial heating rates obtained for a Mach 6 flight are in the (3 to 8) x 10 to the 5th power W/sq m range. Underlying the entire study is the question of nozzle boundary layer formation and growth, as well as the question of the reference length value that should be used in the computations. It is shown that the reference length is not the dominant factor setting the heating levels; an attempt to bound the actual length was made. A more detailed calculation of the rates requires further work to gain a better understanding of the combustor exit boundary layer.
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The boundary layer on the wall of the Hypervelocity Tunnel 9 was investigated with pitot pressure and total temperature measurements. Experimental results are presented for standard and supercooled Mach 14 runs. The boundary layer data at supercooled conditions are compared to numerical predictions made with a Navier-Stokes algorithm including vibrational nonequilibrium and intermolecular force effects. For standard tunnel conditions, the numerical solutions agree well with experimental data. For the supercooled cases, the numerical code predicts the total temperature but overpredicts the pitot pressure.
A new procedure unifying the best of present classical design practices, CFD and optimization procedures, is demonstrated for designing the aerodynamic lines of hypersonic wind tunnel nozzles. This procedure can be employed to design hypersonic wind tunnel nozzles with thick boundary layers where the classical design procedure has been demonstrated to break down. Advantages of this procedure allow full utilization of powerful CFD codes in the design process, solves an optimization problem to determine the new contour, may be used to design new nozzles or improve sections of existing nozzles, and automatically compensates the nozzle contour for viscous effects as part of the unified design procedure.
A new procedure which unifies the best of current classical design practices, computational fluid dynamics (CFD), and optimization procedures is demonstrated for designing the aerodynamic lines of hypersonic wind-tunnel nozzles. The new procedure can be used to design hypersonic wind tunnel nozzles with thick boundary layers where the classical design procedure has been shown to break down. An efficient CFD code, which solves the parabolized Navier-Stokes (PNS) equations using an explicit upwind algorithm, is coupled to a least-squares (LS) optimization procedure. A LS problem is formulated to minimize the difference between the computed flow field and the objective function, consisting of the centerline Mach number distribution and the exit Mach number and flow angle profiles. The aerodynamic lines of the nozzle are defined using a cubic spline, the slopes of which are optimized with the design procedure. The advantages of the new procedure are that it allows full use of powerful CFD codes in the design process, solves an optimization problem to determine the new contour, can be used to design new nozzles or improve sections of existing nozzles, and automatically compensates the nozzle contour for viscous effects as part of the unified design procedure. The new procedure is demonstrated by designing two Mach 15, a Mach 12, and a Mach 18 helium nozzles. The flexibility of the procedure is demonstrated by designing the two Mach 15 nozzles using different constraints, the first nozzle for a fixed length and exit diameter and the second nozzle for a fixed length and throat diameter. The computed flow field for the Mach 15 least squares parabolized Navier-Stokes (LS/PNS) designed nozzle is compared with the classically designed nozzle and demonstrates a significant improvement in the flow expansion process and uniform core region.
The acoustic radiation from the turbulent boundary layer on the nozzle wall of a Mach 6 Ludwieg Tube is simulated using Direct Numerical Simulations (DNS), with the flow conditions falling within the operational range of the Mach 6 Hypersonic Ludwieg Tube, Braunschweig (HLB). The mean and turbulence statistics of the nozzle-wall boundary layer show good agreement with those predicted by Pate's correlation and Reynolds Averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) computations. The rms pressure fluctuation P'(rms)/T(w) plateaus in the freestream core of the nozzle. The intensity of the freestream noise within the nozzle is approximately 20% higher than that radiated from a single at pate with a similar freestream Mach number, potentially because of the contributions to the acoustic radiation from multiple azimuthal segments of the nozzle wall.
This report summarizes the methods developed for the aerodynamic analysis and the shape optimization of the nozzle-afterbody section of a hypersonic vehicle. Initially, exhaust gases were assumed to be air. Internal-external flows around a single scramjet module were analyzed by solving the three dimensional Navier-Stokes equations. Then, exhaust gases were simulated by a cold mixture of Freon and Argon. Two different models were used to compute these multispecies flows as they mixed with the hypersonic airflow. Surface and off-surface properties were successfully compared with the experimental data. In the second phase of this project, the Aerodynamic Design Optimization with Sensitivity analysis (ADOS) was developed. Pre and post optimization sensitivity coefficients were derived and used in this quasi-analytical method. These coefficients were also used to predict inexpensively the flow field around a changed shape when the flow field of an unchanged shape was given. Starting with totally arbitrary initial afterbody shapes, independent computations were converged to the same optimum shape, which rendered the maximum axial thrust.
This report summarizes the methods developed for the aerodynamic analysis and the shape optimization of the nozzle-afterbody section of a hypersonic vehicle. Initially, exhaust gases were assumed to be air. Internal-external flows around a single scramjet module were analyzed by solving the 3D Navier-Stokes equations. Then, exhaust gases were simulated by a cold mixture of Freon and Ar. Two different models were used to compute these multispecies flows as they mixed with the hypersonic airflow. Surface and off-surface properties were successfully compared with the experimental data. The Aerodynamic Design Optimization with Sensitivity analysis was then developed. Pre- and postoptimization sensitivity coefficients were derived and used in this quasi-analytical method. These coefficients were also used to predict inexpensively the flow field around a changed shape when the flow field of an unchanged shape was given. Starting with totally arbitrary initial afterbody shapes, independent computations were converged to the same optimum shape, which rendered the maximum axial thrust.
The purpose was to experimentally characterize the flow field created by the interaction of a single expansion ramp nozzle (SERN) flow with a hypersonic external stream. Data were obtained from a generic nozzle/afterbody model in the 3.5 Foot Hypersonic Wind Tunnel of the NASA Ames Research Center. The model design and test planning were performed in close cooperation with members of the National Aero-Space Plane (NASP) computational fluid dynamics (SFD) team, so that the measurements could be used in CFD code validation studies. Presented here is a description of the experiment, the extent of the measurements obtained, and the experimental results.
The progress report for the grant entitled 'Hypervelocity of Scramjet Combustor-Nozzle Analysis and Design' is presented. The three main tasks in the program are combustor modeling study, development of anaylsis capabilities for hypersonic scramjet nozzles, and development of optimum design methods for hypersonic scramjet nozzles. The research performed was documented in a series of technical publications and presentations at various conferences. A brief description of the research in each of the above three areas and a list of the resulting technical publications are included.
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Vibrational and rotational nonequilibrium flow effects in hypersonic conical nozzle expansion of nitrogen flows and airflows
A computational analysis, modification, and preliminary redesign study was performed on the nozzle contour of the Langley Hypersonic CF4 Tunnel. This study showed that the existing nozzle was contoured incorrectly for the design operating condition, and this error was shown to produce the measured disturbances in the exit flow field. A modified contour was designed for the current nozzle downstream of the maximum turning point that would provide a uniform exit flow. New nozzle contours were also designed for an exit Mach number and Reynolds number combination which matches that attainable in the Langley 20-Inch Mach 6 Tunnel. Two nozzle contours were designed: one having the same exit radius but a larger mass flow rate than that of the existing CF4 Tunnel, and the other having the same mass flow rate but a smaller exit radius than that of the existing CF4 Tunnel.
Plasma effects in nozzle flow of hypersonic shock tunnel using air, obtaining electron density profile
The development of nozzles for hypersonic aircraft is discussed. The simulation of actual nozzle flows with low temperature nonreactive gases is described. Mathematical models of the flow equations nd thermodynamic relations are developed. Cold flow simulation tests were conducted and the results are included.