Shock Transition Studies in Dual Throat Nozzle
Aerospace Engineering
The single-stage-to-orbit (SSTO) reusable launch vehicle is an emerging cost-effective, reliable, and environmentally friendly space transportation concept. The dual throat nozzle (DTN) is a typical altitude compensating nozzle that ensure adapted nozzle flow throughout the flight. The DTN has an inner primary nozzle and an outer secondary nozzle. Hence, it is capable of expanding different propellant/oxidizer combinations. The parallel burn operations in which the expansion of combustion products from both thrust chambers exhibits an interesting flow phenomenon in the DTN. The evolution of shock transition from regular reflection to Mach reflection and its reversal was captured. The shock transition hysteresis, its mechanism and control using wall heat transfer were also investigated. Results help improve the off-design operation of the DTN when it is used for a single-stage-to-orbit space mission.
S. Jayakrishnan and M. Deepu Numerical study on the shock transitions during off-design operation of a dual throat thruster, Shock Waves, Vol. 31, 2021. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00193-021-01037-3