Investigation of fluidic thrust vectoring for scramjets

Abstract

Fluidic thrust vectoring (FTV) offers a novel approach to aerodynamic control, circumventing some of the issues associated with mechanical systems. One method is shock vector control which involves injecting a fluid into the exhaust nozzle of an engine to redirect the gases and thus, produce a control force. An experimental model which incorporated FTV was designed and tested at Mach 6 in the Oxford high density tunnel (HDT). The model was a simplified two-dimensional scramjet geometry with two different configurations to compare an internal and external exhaust nozzle. The FTV injection system consisted of a slot at the rear edge of the exhaust nozzle fed from an internal plenum. In the experimental campaign, a range of gas injection pressures and free stream stagnation pressures were tested to assess the effectiveness of both configurations. Two new measurement methods were successfully implemented in the HDT: pressure sensitive paint and a 6-axis load cell. The FTV system has been shown to be effective with observable increases in lift and pitching moment. A linear relation between the injection pressure ratio and the control forces could be observed for both configurations. Graphical abstract