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Cold gas dual-bell tests in high-altitude simulation chamber

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Abstract

An experimental investigation has been carried out to study dual-bell transition behavior in different set ups inside a high-altitude test facility. Cold gas tests were carried out under two different operating conditions namely (i) test nozzle operating in self-evacuation mode and, (ii) test nozzle operating with an additional ejector nozzle (pre-evacuated condition). Although forward transition nozzle pressure ratio does not show any change in its value irrespective of the type of test facility and test set up, the re-transition nozzle pressure ratio shows a significant increase (7–8%) in its value when tested in the high-altitude facility. The latter is caused due to plume blowback effect which dominates during shut down transients in such facilities. Driven by the high atmospheric pressure, the jet exhaust is pushed backwards into the altitude chamber causing the re-transition to occur earlier than that observed in sea-level tests. Further the reduced mass flow rates for nozzle operation in different test set ups in a high-altitude test facility also reduces the magnitude of side-load peaks during the dual-bell transitions.

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Abbreviations

L base :

length of the base nozzle, mm

L :

total length of dual-bell nozzle, mm

P 0 :

test nozzle stagnation pressure, bar

P 0ej :

ejector nozzle stagnation pressure, bar

P a :

ambient pressure, bar

P b :

back pressure in altitude chamber, bar

P e :

pressure at the nozzle exit, bar

P w :

local mean wall pressure, bar

r t :

radius of nozzle throat, mm

X :

co-ordinate along nozzle axis, mm

X inc :

location of incipient separation, mm

Y :

co-ordinate normal to nozzle axis, mm

\({\epsilon}\) :

area-ratio of the complete nozzle

\({\epsilon_{{\rm b}}}\) :

area-ratio of the base nozzle

α i :

wall inflection angle, degrees

α e :

wall angle at nozzle exit, degrees

HASC:

High-altitude simulation chamber

HTR:

Horizontal test-rig

NPR:

Nozzle pressure ratio, P 0/P a or P 0/P b

PEC:

Pre-evacuated condition

SEM:

Self-evacuation mode

STP:

Test nozzle start up transient

SHD:

Test nozzle shut down transient

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Experimental Aerodynamics Division, CSIR-National Aerospace Laboratories, Bangalore, 560017, India

    S. B. Verma

  2. Nozzle Flow Group, DLR Lampoldshausen, Lampoldshausen, Germany

    R. Stark, C. Génin & O. Haidn

Authors
  1. S. B. Verma
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  2. R. Stark
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  3. C. Génin
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  4. O. Haidn
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Correspondence to S. B. Verma.

Additional information

Communicated by A. Hadjadj.

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Verma, S.B., Stark, R., Génin, C. et al. Cold gas dual-bell tests in high-altitude simulation chamber. Shock Waves 21, 131–140 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00193-011-0302-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00193-011-0302-6

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