Unsteady flow simulation of compressible turbulent flow in dual-bell nozzle with movement of extendible section from its initial to working position

Abstract

The use of extendible nozzles in propulsion systems is one of the ways to increase the geometric degree of expansion of the nozzle and the thrust. Numerical simulation of a supersonic turbulent flow of a viscous compressible gas in an extendible nozzle is considered. The simulations performed take into account the movement of the extendible part of the nozzle from the its initial to the working position. The Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes equations and the equations of the SST turbulence model discretized on moving meshes are used for numerical calculations. The unsteady flowfield formed when the nozzle is brought to the working position is studied, and the topological features of the flow (separation, mixing, reattachment, secondary flow), and the spatial and temporal distributions of flow quantities are investigated. The distributions of pressure at different times and the axial force applied to the inner walls of the nozzle during the outflow of a supersonic underexpanded jet from the nozzle are discussed. The distributions of flow quantities computed with unsteady and quasi-state formulations of the problem are compared.