Splitting supersonic nozzle flow into separate jets by overexpansion into a multilobed divergent nozzle

Air flowing from a convergent nozzle at pressure ratios greater than 2.5 has been split into eight separate jets by overexpansion of the flow into a divergent, eight-lobed passage. The splitting of the flow is accompanied by a decrease in the nozzle axial centerline Mach number. This in part is due to the radial inflow of secondary air between the lobes toward the nozzle centerline. Each of the smaller jets is partially split after it leaves the end of the divergent lobed section of the nozzle, thus creating a velocity profile having 16 peaks. At a pressure ratio of 3.5 the flow decelerates to Mach 1 in three convergent nozzle throat diameters. Convergent nozzle flow normally requires 12 diameters to reach Mach 1. The nozzle has a sound attenuation of 12 decibels with a thrust loss of 9 percent for the best configuration tested.