Design and analysis of a rectangular cross-section hypersonic nozzle

A technique for designing rectangular cross-section hypersonic nozzles where all four walls are contoured is presented. Two design variations are shown; one follows directly from a streamtracing method while the other is reshaped to enforce rectangular cross-sections. The former has slightly bulging walls while the latter is easier to manufacture. The application of the true-streamtraced nozzle when integrated with a Flight Acceleration Simulation Test (FAST) technique is also studied. In a FAST test, the simulated flight Mach number is varied by using a reflector plate downstream of the nozzle to generate either all oblique shock or all expansion fan. FAST requires a nozzle with rectangular exit, and therefore the current design method is particularly applicable. The How quality of the rectangular nozzles as well as the effects of the reflector plate will be discussed.