Numerical investigation of aerospike nozzle configuration on its performance

The numerical simulations of the flow field around and aerospike nozzle cell were completed base on N-S equations with second-order NND scheme. The attentions were paid to the effects of the two mainly parameters, the angle of aerospike nozzle cell and the length of plug, on aerospike nozzle performance at the working conditions departing from design altitude. The results indicate that the thrust produced by internal nozzle gets less and the thrusts produced by plug and base gets bigger with oblique angle increasing whether the flight level is lower or higher than the design altitude. And the optimal oblique angle nears to the angle that is designed at rated altitude both at low and high altitude. Though the truncated aerospike can reduce the mass of aerospike nozzle, there is a loss to the aerospike nozzle performance whether at low or high altitude. It is potential to improve the aerospike nozzle performance.