MAE 5347/4322

Rocket Propulsion
04-Nozzle Flow Theory

 ASSUMPTIONS
Steady, one-dimensional flow
Adiabatic

Frictionless

Isentropic

Chemical equilibrium, established in combustion

chamber & does not change through nozzle

Ideal gas model(TPG+CPG) (Thermal and Caloric)

Axial exhaust velocity

1. ENERGY EQUATION
h
p
V

ho
po
V=0

h0 p0

p0

V2
2

(h, p)

h0 V .ndA Q W 0

CS

m constant
mh0 const
h0 constant
First Law with
Kinetic Energy
Term

V12
V2 2
h0 h1
h2
2
2
V2

2( h2 h1 ) V12

NORMALLY V1 = 0, h1 h01 h02

V2

V2 2
h2
2

2( h0 h2 )

and if we assume perfect gas with constant specific heats

p RT
(TPG )
h C pT
(CPG )
Ve

2C p (T0 Te )

Exit

Te
2C pT0 (1 )
T0

for perfect gas : C p

R
1

R
univ.gas constant
R

M
mol. weight

R 8314.3 J KG MOL0 K

1544 FT - LB f LBm mol R

Isentropic
From First Law: (No K.E. in this derivation)
dE = dQ + dW
dW = -PdV (reversible work)
Negative due to the convention that work done on
the system means that V2 < V1 in order for dW > 0,
must have a -

dQ = TdS (reversible, constant T)

dE = TdS PdV and dH = TdS +VdP
Prove dH formula by dH = dU + d(PV)

Isentropic Relationship
Ideal Gas Law PV = RT, P = RT/V
dS = dE/T + PdV/T
dS = dH/T - RdP/P (R/P = V/T)
CvdT = dE and CpdT = dH
dS = CvdT/T + RdV/V (R/V = P/T)
dS = CpdT/T RdP/P
dS = 0:
Forgive my use of
Capitals vs. Lower
Cv dT/T = -RdV/V
Case
Cp dT/T = RdP/P

Isentropic (Cont)
R = CP - CV
= CP/CV
R/CV = ( - 1)
More Relationships, use Cp relationship
Cp ln(T2/T1) = Rln(P2/P1)
Divide by Cv and use
ln(T2/T1) = ( -1)ln(P2/P1)
The rest can be proven with calculus.

and for isentropic flow in nozzle

1

pe
Te

T0
p0

Ve

2
R
T0
1 M

From First Law and Isentropic

Assumptions

pe
1

p
0

Derive cp based on
Algebraprove itand exercise for you to do
cp = R/( - 1)
cv = R/( - 1)

cp and do not vary greatly with temperature

for air
Some exhaust gases can be modeled with the
proper

2. ISENTROPIC FLOW RELATIONS

Energy equation
V2
h0 h
2

Assume CPG (Caloric)

V2
C pT0 C pT
2
T0
V2
1
1
T
2C pT

=1+

-1
2

M2

V2
RT a 2

Important
Relationship
(Eq 3-12)

Cp Relationship for
In Denominator

For isentropic flow

Te 1 pe -1 2
M

1+
2

T0
p0

Te

T0

1
1

-1 2
M
1+
2

1
1

Reference: "Gas Tables", Keenan & Kaye

"Gasdynamics", Zucrow & Hoffman
Tabulation for = 1.1,1.2,1.3,1.4 & 1.66

Figure 3-9
Over expansion =
shocks
Under expansion =
expansion waves

3. NOZZLE MASS FLOW RATE

MASS FLOW RATE PARAMETER
ASSUME
Steady,Quasi-one-dimensional flow
Isentropic flow
Perfect gas

m VA
p

M
RT A
RT
p
T0 A

p0
p0
RT T0

p0
T0
ATH , Ae

-1 2
m 1+
M
2

or

p0 M

RT0

-1 2
M A
1+
2

1
2 1

m T0

Ap0

1
M

RT0 1+ -1 M 2

m T0
*
@M 1 A A
Ap0

m T0
Ap0

max

3 M

In order to be
supersonic at
the exit, the
throat Mach
number must
be 1, choked
flow

m T0
2

Ap0
R 1

1
2 1

ideal mass flow rate parameter =

Used to
determine mass
flow rate

*Nozzle Discharge Coefficient

m
Cd , mi ideal mass flow rate
mi

1
~.99

Cd

Cd

~1.15
1

Low T

.6

Re

TW

4. AREA RATIO FUNCTION

Consider a nozzle flow with fixed

m, T0 and p0

p0
T0
m
2

m T0

Ap0

and calculate
m T0

Ap0

from the mass flow parameter

m T
0

A p0

m T
0

A p0

solving for

A2

1
2 1

M2

1+
.

M1

1
2 1

A2
M2

.
A1
M1

1+

M 22

2
-1
1+
M 12
2

M 22

2
-1
1+
M 12
2

A1

-1

-1

Now let () 2 ~any point in nozzle

()1 ~sonic point in nozzle
~M1 =1; A1 =A*
1
2 1

A
1
2 -1 2

.
M
1+
*
A
M 1
2

M<1
A*

M<1

A
A*

M>1

'TABULATED FUNCTION'
NACA 1135(AIR)
K&K GAS TABLES =1.1-1.6
1
M>1

M<1

NOTE: recall from ideal compressible flow theory,

a C-D nozzle shape is required for continuous
acceleration from subsonic to supersonic
flow.

M<1
M=1

p0

M>1

* Euler Eq.
dp
V
V
dx
x
* Velocity/area DE
dV
1 dA

dx
1 M 2 dx

5. THRUST

F mVe Ae Pe - Pa
* Ve

-1

P
2 R
T0 1- e
P0
-1 M

A* P0
* m
T0

M 2

R 1

1
-1

1
-1 2

-1

2 2
Pe
Pe - Pa Ae
F A* P0
1

-1 1 P0

P
P
0
0 A*

*
Pe Pa Ae
F f A , P0 , ,
,
,

P
P
A
0
0
*

related

Independent of T0 , M

6. SPECIFIC IMPULSE
IS

F
mc
c

mg 0
mg 0
g0

=f

T0 P0
,

M Pa

 THRUST COEFFICIENT ~IDEAL NOZZLE

pa
p0

pe

T0

ATH

Ae

Thrust FG meVe Ae pe pa
Define thrust coefficient
FG
CF
ATH A* (choked nozzle)

p0 ATH

meVe
T0
Ae Pe Pa

p0 ATH
T0
ATH P0 P0
me T0
Ve
Ae Pe Pa

p0 ATH
A
P
P
T0
TH
0
0
from nozzle energy eqation
2 h0 he

Ve
=

2C p T0 Te

T 'e
2 N C pT0 1

T
0

Ve

T0

T 'e
2 N C p 1

T
0

for choked isentropic flow

m T0
2

ATH p0
R 1
CF

2
R 1

1
2 1

1
2 1

pe
Ae Pe Pa

2 N C p 1

p0 ATH P0 P0

R
and since
.2C p
.2
R
R 1
1
2 1

CF

2 2
1 1

1 pe
Ae Pe - Pa
p A P P
TH 0
0
0

Typical variation

Complete
expansion

CF

pe pa

underexpanded
pe pa

pe
constant
pa

overexpanded
pe pa

Ae
ATH

For constant p0 NPR, CF

pa
expansion

MAX

Derivation

CF
0
A

ATH

Physical argument
pa

pi

occurs for complete

Underexpanded pe pa

Loose available thrust

Overexpanded pe pa

Gain additional drag(+added weight)

Note: CF ~ thrust amplification by nozzle expansion as
compared to thrust produced by total pressure
exerted over throat area

Ref; NAVWEPS Report 1488 Handbook of Supersonic Aerodynamics

OVEREXPANDED NOZZLE PERFORMANCE LOSS

(BL SEPARATION IN SUPERSONIC NOZZLE)
INVISCID FLOW

M>1 M<1

VISCOUS CLOW

Pe P0

NS IN NOZZLE WITH
SUBSONIC EXHAUST

pe p0

OS/SEPARATED BLSUPERSONIC EXHAUST

FLOW MODEL

CORE

MIXING REGION

p0

pS
x

Ref; NAVWEPS Report 1488 Handbook of Supersonic Aerodynamics

Thrust coefficient- Separated flow

CF

2 2
1 1

As Ps Pa
+
-
ATH Pc Pc

1
2 1

1 ps
pc

1
2