Book Description

An analytical method for including thermodynamic data with variable isentropic exponent in the method of characteristics as applied to the design of high-temperature exhaust nozzles has been obtained. Several bell-shaped nozzles have been designed with this method. A comparison of nozzle contours obtained by assuming identical boundary conditions and either frozen or equilibrium composition shows that significant differences occur. A computation of the variation of vacuum specific impulse with axial length showed that considerable nozzle length, and hence weight, can be eliminated without serious thrust penalties in nozzle designs that gradually expand the flow to uniform exit conditions.