Computational Comparison of Dual Bell, Expansion-Deflection, and Aerospike Rocket Nozzles
Faculty Mentor
Dr. Marcel Ilie
Location
Poster 173
Session Format
Poster Presentation
Academic Unit
Department of Mechanical Engineering
Background
The space industry is largely driven by operational costs. Many programs like the Apollo, the Space Shuttle, and even space startups have been shut down due to funding limitations. As Hagemann explains, the reduction of launch costs and launcher reliability are key demands for the future of spaceflight (1998). As a result, most of the research done on aerospace systems has been regarding its operational efficiency, either through the increase the performance parameters or reduction the initial rocket mass. These efforts have been achieved through analysis of propellant choice, feed system design, increasing thrust chamber performance, improving nozzle design, and multi-staging. Several nozzle designs have been proposed to reduce the divergence losses or losses due to performance in off-design altitude operation settings. Some of the most promising options are the Altitude Adaptive Nozzles, also known as Altitude Compensating Nozzles (ACNs), whose contours offer significantly less performance losses in off-design operation. This is achieved with the adaptation of nozzle exit pressures to the variations of in the ambient pressure during the rocket’s ascent through the atmosphere. This thesis will present a computational analysis of several altitude adapting rocket nozzles and a direct comparison through performance parameters such as thrust and specific impulse.
Keywords
Allen E. Paulson College of Engineering and Computing Student Research Symposium, Altitude Compensating Nozzles, ACNs
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Presentation Type and Release Option
Presentation (File Not Available for Download)
Start Date
2022 12:00 AM
January 2022
Computational Comparison of Dual Bell, Expansion-Deflection, and Aerospike Rocket Nozzles
Poster 173
