ACTIVE FLOW CONTROL OF AN OVER-EXPANDED NOZZLE BY SHOCK VECTOR CONTROL

Thrust vectoring obtained by the nozzle flow manipulation technique known as Shock Vector Control (SVC) is investigated numerically. In the shock vector control method, a shock structure is generated in the main flow by using transversal continuous blowing. The pressure distribution on the nozzle walls becomes asymmetric, thus giving rise to a lateral force. The open-loop response of the nozzle and the thrust vectoring effectiveness/controllability are investigated by using a CFD tool based on the compressible URANS equations. Nozzle performances and thrust vector angles have been computed for different nozzle pressure ratios in the range of over-expanded conditions. The latter represent the worst case, where the shock structure generated by the control is amplified by the re-compression requirements imposed by the external ambient pressure.