Theoretical Aspects of Thrust Vector Control by Secondary Gas Injection in Rocket Nozzles

Abstract

This work deals with theoretical aspects of thrust vector control in rocket nozzles by the injection of secondary gas into the supersonic region of the nozzle. The work is concerned mainly with two-dimensional flow, though some aspects of three-dimensional flow in axisymmetric nozzles are considered. The subject matter is divided into three parts. In Part I, the side force produced when a physical wedge is placed into the exit of a two-dimensional nozzle is considered. In Parts 2 and 3, the physical wedge is replaced by a wedge-shaped “dead water” region produced by the separation of the boundary layer upstream of a secondary injection port. The modifications which then have to be made to the theoretical relationships, given in Part 1, are enumerated. Theoretical relationships for side force, thrust augmentation and magnification parameter for two- and three-dimensional flow are given for secondary injection normal to the main nozzle axis. In addition, the advantages to be gained by secondary injection in an upstream direction are clearly illustrated. The theoretical results are compared with experimental work and a comparison is made with the theories of other workers.