Computational Analysis of the Transonic Flow Field of Two-Dimensional Minimum Length Nozzles

The method of characteristics is used to generate supersonic wall contours for two-dimensional, straight sonic line (SSL) and curved sonic line (CSL) minimum length nozzles for exit Mach numbers of two, four and six. These contours are combined with subsonic inlets to determine the influence of the inlet geometry on the sonic-line shape, its location, and on the supersonic flow field. A modified version of the VNAP2 code is used to compute the inviscid and laminar flow fields for Reynolds numbers of 1,170, 11,700, and 23,400. Supersonic flow field phenomena, including boundary-layer separation and oblique shock waves, are observed to be a result of the inlet geometry. The sonic-line assumptions made for the SSL prove to be superior to those of the CSL.

Comparison of Minimum Length Nozzles

A second-order accurate method-of-characteristics algorithm is used to determine the flow field and wall contour for a supersonic, axisymmetric, minimum length nozzle with a straight sonic line. Results are presented for this nozzle and compared with three other minimum length nozzle configurations. It is shown that the one investigated actually possesses the shortest length as well as the smallest initial wall turn angle at the throat. It also has an inflection point on the wall contour, in contrast to the other configurations.