Shadowgraphy of the end-effects regime produced by clustered rockets

The plume produced by a cluster of two high area-ratio thrust optimized parabolic contour nozzles is visualized by way of retroreflective shadowgraphy. Both steady and transient operations of the nozzles (start-up and shut-down) were conducted in the anechoic chamber and high speed flow facility at The University of Texas at Austin. Both nozzles exhibit free shock separated flow, restricted shock separated flow and an end-effects-regime prior to flowing full. Radon transforms of the shadowgraphy images are used to identify the locations in the flow where sound waves are being generated. During these off design operations of the nozzles, most sound waves are generated by turbulence interactions with the shock cells located in the supersonic annular plume. During the end-effects-regime, this supersonic annular plume is shown to flap violently, thus providing a first principals understanding of the sources of most intense loads during engine ignition