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Development of an Integrated Nozzle for a Symmetric, RBCC Launch Vehicle ConfigurationThe development of rocket based combined cycle (RBCC) engines is highly dependent upon integrating several different modes of operation into a single system. One of the key components to develop acceptable performance levels through each mode of operation is the nozzle. It must be highly integrated to serve the expansion processes of both rocket and air-breathing modes without undue weight, drag, or complexity. The NASA GTX configuration requires a fixed geometry, altitude-compensating nozzle configuration. The initial configuration, used mainly to estimate weight and cooling requirements was a 1 So half-angle cone, which cuts a concave surface from a point within the flowpath to the vehicle trailing edge. Results of 3-D CFD calculations on this geometry are presented. To address the critical issues associated with integrated, fixed geometry, multimode nozzle development, the GTX team has initiated a series of tasks to evolve the nozzle design, and validate performance levels. An overview of these tasks is given. The first element is a design activity to develop tools for integration of efficient expansion surfaces With the existing flowpath and vehicle aft-body, and to develop a second-generation nozzle design. A preliminary result using a "streamline-tracing" technique is presented. As the nozzle design evolves, a combination of 3-D CFD analysis and experimental evaluation will be used to validate the design procedure and determine the installed performance for propulsion cycle modeling. The initial experimental effort will consist of cold-flow experiments designed to validate the general trends of the streamline-tracing methodology and anchor the CFD analysis. Experiments will also be conducted to simulate nozzle performance during each mode of operation. As the design matures, hot-fire tests will be conducted to refine performance estimates and anchor more sophisticated reacting-flow analysis.
Document ID
20010036869
Acquisition Source
Glenn Research Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Smith, Timothy D.
(NASA Glenn Research Center Cleveland, OH United States)
Canabal, Francisco, III
(NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL United States)
Rice, Tharen
(Johns Hopkins Univ. Baltimore, MD United States)
Blaha, Bernard
(Ohio Aerospace Inst. Brook Park, OH United States)
Date Acquired
August 29, 2013
Publication Date
November 1, 2000
Publication Information
Publication: JANNAF 25th Airbreathing Propulsion Subcommittee, 37th Combustion Subcommittee and 1st Modeling and Simultation Subcommittee Joint Meeting
Volume: 1
Subject Category
Launch Vehicles And Launch Operations
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Public Use Permitted.
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