Effect of nozzle shapes on lateral jets in supersonic crossflows

Abstract

This study investigates the complex interaction between a lateral jet and the supersonic external flow, so as to provide fruitful understandings of the effect of jet nozzle shapes on the reaction force. Flow solver FLUENT is utilized with SST turbulent model and patched grids for simulation. Four kinds of jet nozzle shapes with equivalent cross-sectional area (viz. circular, elliptical and wedge-shaped with opposite orientations) are investigated. The very good agreement between experimental and numerical studies for the circular nozzle credits the validity of current numerical investigations. Having examined the pressure coefficient distributions and jet-interaction amplification factors, it is found that the elliptical jet nozzle, with its semimajor in the crosswise orientation of external flow, will have larger separation region in size ahead of the jet orifice, which leads to the increase of the local pressure and finally enhances the jet-interaction amplification factor, viz. improving the efficiency of lateral control. Copyright © 2009 by Jun-Mei Zhang, Jinsheng Cai and Yongdong Cui.