Numerical Analysis of the Clustered Type Aerospike Nozzle Flow: Flow Structures and Thrust Performance

Abstract

Fundamental characteristics of the clustered type aerospike nozzle is analyzed by the computational fluid dynamics approach. The base thrust of the aerospike nozzle plays an important role to maintain the thrust even in high spike-length truncations. The pressure at the tip of the ramp increases and stronger expansion occurs toward the nozzle axis for lower module number nozzles. The stagnation pressure increases and consequently the base pressure increases for lower module number nozzles. The thrust loss at the ramp is the major reason for the performance decrease for the lower module number aerospike nozzles.