Basic Aerodynamics

Prof. G K Suryanarayana
Dept. of Aerospace Engineering
16 Sep 2019
 Supersonic Wind Tunnel and Rocket Engine

The basic aerodynamics of a supersonic wind tunnel and a rocket engine

A are same

Area-Velocity relation
 Supersonic Wind Tunnel and Rocket Engine

If the flow is subsonic (M < 1), for the velocity to increase (dV positive), the area
must decrease (dA negative); that A is, when the flow is subsonic, the area must
converge for the velocity to increase. Of course, incompressible flow is, in a sense,
a singular case of subsonic flow, where M 0.
 Supersonic Wind Tunnel and Rocket Engine

If the flow is supersonic (M > 1), for the velocity to increase (dV positive), the area
must also increase (dA positive); that
A is, when the flow is supersonic, the area must
diverge for the velocity to increase.

A supersonic nozzle looks similar to a subsonic diffuser

 Supersonic Wind Tunnel and Rocket Engine

If the flow is sonic (M = 1), then

A
This suggests that for M = 1, dV/V must be infinitely large. However, on a physical basis,
the velocity, and hence the change in velocity dV at all times must be finite. Thus, the only
way for dV/V to be finite is to have dA/A = 0

That is dV/V= (1/0)(dA/A) = 0/0 = Finite number. The region where dA/A= 0 is the region
of minimum area, also called the throat

In the language of differential calculus, (dV/V) is an indeterminate form of 0/0 and hence
can have a finite value. In turn, if dA/A = 0, the stream tube has a minimum area at M = 1.
This minimum area is called a throat
 Supersonic Wind Tunnel and Rocket Engine

Therefore, to expand a gas to supersonic speeds, starting with a stagnant gas in a reservoir,
a Convergent-Divergent shape must beAused. Such a shape is called a De-Laval Nozzle

De-Laval Nozzle

De-Laval Nozzles are used to achieve supersonic Mach numbers in wind tunnels and in
rocket engines. The flow starts out with a very low velocity V « 0 in the reservoir, expands
to high subsonic speeds in the convergent section, reaches Mach 1 at the throat, and then
goes supersonic in the divergent section downstream of the throat. In a supersonic wind
tunnel, smooth, uniform flow at the nozzle exit is usually desired, and therefore, a long,
gradually converging and diverging nozzle is employed. For rocket engines, the flow
quality at the exit is not quite as important, but the weight of the nozzle is a major concern.
For the weight to be minimized, the engine’s length is minimized, which gives rise to a
rapidly diverging, bell-like shape for the supersonic section.
Supersonic Wind Tunnel and Rocket Engine

Supersonic nozzle in wind tunnel

Rocket engine nozzle

Supersonic Wind Tunnel and Rocket Engine

A
Supersonic nozzle in a wind tunnel

Rocket engine nozzle

Supersonic Wind Tunnel and Rocket Engine

A
Variation of pressure, temperature and density in a
supersonic nozzle

For M = 1, p = p*, T = T*, ρ = ρ*

T * = 0.833T0
p * = 0.5283p0 Choking Condition
ρ* = 0.6339ρρ0
 Examples of supersonic flow in a nozzle
What are the reservoir pressure and temperature and the area ratio (Ae/At)
required to achieve a Mach 2 flow in a supersonic wind tunnel where the
static pressure is 1 bar and static temperature is 288.16K?

ps = l atm = 1.01 x 105 N/m2, and the Ts = 288.16 K

 Examples of supersonic flow in a nozzle
The reservoir temperature and pressure of a supersonic wind tunnel are 600° R
and 10 atm respectively. The Mach number o f the flow in the test section is 3. A
blunt-nosed model is inserted in the test section flow. Calculate the pressure,
temperature, and density at the stagnation point (at the nose of the body).
Examples of supersonic flow in a nozzle
 Examples of supersonic flow in a nozzle

In the combustion chamber of a rocket engine, kerosene and oxygen are burned,
resulting in a hot, high-pressure gas mixture in the combustion chamber with the
following conditions and properties: T0 = 3144 K, p0 = 20 atm, R = 378 J/(kg)(K),
and γ = 1.26. The pressure at the exit of the rocket nozzle is 1 atm, and the throat
area of the nozzle is 0.1 m2. Assuming isentropic flow through the rocket nozzle,
calculate (a) the velocity at the exit and (b) the mass flow through the nozzle.
Examples of supersonic flow in a nozzle