Design Study on a Variable Intake and a Variable Nozzle for Hypersonic Engines

Variable air intake and variable exhaust nozzle of hypersonic engines are designed and tested in this study. Dimensions for variable geometry air intake, ram combustor and variable geometry exhaust nozzle are defined based on the requirements of a pre-cooled turbojet engine. Hypersonic Ramjet Engine is designed as a scaled test bed for each component. Actuation forces of moving parts for variable intake and variable nozzle are reduced by balancing the other force in the opposite direction. A demonstrator engine which includes variable intake and variable nozzle is designed and the components are fabricated. Composite material with silicone carbide is applied for high temperature parts under oxidation environment such as leading edge of the variable intake and combustor liner. Internal cooling structure is adopted for both moving and static parts of the variable nozzle. Pressure recovery and mass capture ratio of the variable intake at Mach 5 is obtained by a hypersonic wind tunnel test. Flow characteristics of the variable nozzle are obtained by a low temperature flow test. Wall temperature and heat flux of the nozzle at Mach 3 is obtained by a firing test. As results, the intake and the nozzle are proved to be used at designed pressure and temperature environment.