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International Journal of Scientific and Research Publications, Volume 6, Issue 5, May 2016 50
ISSN 2250-3153
where
F centerbody = thrust force acting on the centerbody
Example of an aerospike nozzle with a subsonic,
recirculating flow [from Hill and Peterson, 1992] A centerbody = cross-sectional area of the centerbody moving
The circulation of this secondary flow and its interaction along the nozzle axis
with the engine exhaust creates an "aerodynamic spike" that p centerbody = pressure of the exhaust gases on the centerbody
behaves much like the ideal, isentropic spike. In addition, the moving along the nozzle axis
secondary flow re-circulates upward pushing on the base to = ambient pressure of the atmosphere
produce additional thrust. It is this artificial aerodynamic spike p
for which the aerospike nozzle is named.
Finally, we mentioned that the aerospike nozzle is so
Aerospike Aerodynamics named because an "aerodynamic spike" is created through the
Thrust Characteristics: addition of a secondary, circulating flow aft of the flat nozzle
The basic thrust characteristics of the aerospike nozzle can base. As the supersonic primary flow, consisting of the high-
be better understood by referring to the following figure. pressure gases exhausted from the thrusters, expands downstream
of the base, the primary flow interacts with the subsonic,
secondary flow causing it to circulate. This low-pressure flow
then re-circulates upward to exert an additional thrust force on
the base.
where
F base = thrust force acting on the base
p base = pressure of the re-circulating flow on the base
p = ambient pressure of the atmosphere
A base = cross-sectional area of the base
Example of an aerospike nozzle with a subsonic,
recirculating flow [from Hill and Peterson, 1992] Summing up these three thrust components yields the
The nozzle generates thrust in three ways. First, the following relationship for the total thrust force (T) generated by
thrusters in the toroidal chamber, located at the base of the an aerospike nozzle:
nozzle, generate thrust as the fuel is combusted and exhausted.
We shall label this thrust component F thruster , and we can
compute this thrust using the equation
Altitude Compensation
Altitude Compensation:
where However, many claim that the ultimate strength of the
F thruster = thrust force acting on the thruster aerospike nozzle is its inherent altitude compensation capability,
= mass flow rate as shown below.
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International Journal of Scientific and Research Publications, Volume 6, Issue 5, May 2016 51
ISSN 2250-3153
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International Journal of Scientific and Research Publications, Volume 6, Issue 5, May 2016 52
ISSN 2250-3153
REFERENCES
[1] Kumakawa, A., Onodera, T., Yoshida, M., Atsumi, M., and Igarashi, I. A
Study of Aerospike-Nozzle Engines, AIAA Paper 98-3526, 1998.
Aerospike thrust vectoring control [from Rocketdyne, 1999] [2] Marshall Space Flight Center Fact Sheets,
• Lower vehicle weight: Even though the aerospike tends http://www1.msfc.nasa.gov/NEWS/background/facts/aerospike.html
to be heavier than the bell nozzle, it shares many major [3] Migdal, David. Supersonic Annular Nozzles, Journal of Spacecraft and
structural elements with the vehicle reducing overall Rockets, vol. 9, no. 1, January 1972, pp. 3-6.
weight. [4] Mueller, Thomas J. and Hall, Charles R. Jr. Separated Flow Region within a
Planar Expansion-Deflection Nozzle,
Disadvantages:
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