[an error occurred while processing this directive] [an error occurred while processing this directive] [an error occurred while processing this directive]
[an error occurred while processing this directive]

Journal of Projectiles, Rockets, Missiles and Guidance >

2025 , Vol. 45 >Issue 5: 817 - 826

DOI: https://doi.org/10.15892/j.cnki.djzdxb.2025.05.026

Academic article

Impact of Multi-Nozzle Configuration on the Base Thermal Environment of Rockets

  • XIONG Zongjian , 1 ,
  • ZHAO Yuchen 1 ,
  • JIANG Yi , 1, * ,
  • YAN Peize 1 ,
  • LIU Hanyu 2
Expand
  • 1 School of Astronautics, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China
  • 2 Beijing Institute of Aerospace Systems Engineering, Beijing 100076, China

Received date: 2025-03-04

  Online published: 2025-11-28

Fold

Abstract

As the principal launch platform for deep space exploration, rockets generate high-temperature combustion gas flow fields at their base during ascent due to interactions between engine-exhaust plumes and ambient air. This extreme thermal environment can cause electronic equipment failure and seriously threaten flight safety. To investigate the base thermal environment of an "8+1" clustered-nozzle launch vehicle with different nozzle arrangements, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) numerical simulations were conducted using the finite volume method. The study employed the Discrete Ordinates (DO) radiation model considering radiative effects from strong emitters (H2O, CO2, CO), along with the Realizable k-ε turbulence model and multi-component model to analyze how relative nozzle positions affect base thermal environments at different altitudes. Results demonstrate significant nozzle arrangement impacts: Rearward displacement of the central nozzle improves base thermal conditions at low altitudes but worsens them at high altitudes. Inward/outward shifting or outward deflection of peripheral nozzles consistently reduces base heat flux across altitudes, achieving maximum improvements of up to 69.3%.

Key words： launch vehicle; thermal environment; gas jet; multiple nozzles; computational fluid mechanics

Cite this article

XIONG Zongjian , ZHAO Yuchen , JIANG Yi , YAN Peize , LIU Hanyu . Impact of Multi-Nozzle Configuration on the Base Thermal Environment of Rockets[J]. Journal of Projectiles, Rockets, Missiles and Guidance, 2025 , 45(5) : 817 -826 . DOI: 10.15892/j.cnki.djzdxb.2025.05.026

[an error occurred while processing this directive]

References

Publishing order | Descend order by publishing year | Descend order by cited within
[1]
Zhou Z, Bao Y, Sun P, et al. Afterburning effect on thermal environment of four-engine liquid rockets at different altitudes[J]. Engineering Applications of Computational Fluid Mechanics, 2021, 15(1): 1134-1146.

DOI

[2]
闫指江, 吴彦森, 张耘隆, 等. 国内外运载火箭一级底部喷流热环境研究综述[J]. 载人航天, 2021, 27 (02): 262-268.

YAN Z J, WU Y S, ZHANG Y L, et al. Carrier rocket at the bottom of the primary jet thermal environment at home and abroad research review[J]. Journal of manned space flight, 2021, 27 (02) : 262-268.

[3]
孙培杰, 王东保, 杨帆, 等. 运载高空发动机喷流热环境分析及飞行验证[J]. 上海航天, 2016, 33 (S1): 23-28.

SUN P J, WANG D B, YANG F, et al. Analysis and flight Verification of jet Thermal environment of a high-altitude engine[J]. Shanghai Aerospace Science, 2016, 33 (S1): 23-28.

[4]
SHAN S, QIAN B, ZHOU Z, et al. New pressurized WSGG model and the effect of pressure on the radiation heat transfer of H2O/CO2 gas mixtures[J]. International journal of heat and mass transfer, 2018, 121: 999-1010.

DOI

[5]
GREENWOOD T F, LEE Y C, BENDER R L, et al. Space shuttle base heating[J]. Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets, 1984, 21(4): 339-345.

DOI

[6]
REIJASSE P, DELERY J. Investigation of the Flow past the ARIANE 5 Launcher Afterbody[J]. Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets, 1994, 31(2): 208-214.

DOI

[7]
KRAMER O. Evaluation of thermal radiation from the Titan III solid rocket motor exhaust plumes[C]// 5th Thermophysics Conference. 1970: 842.

[8]
ZHAO C, SUN Z, SU Y, et al. Study on bottom thermal environment of launch vehicle during high altitude flight[C]// Journal of Physics: Conference Series. IOP Publishing, 2022, 2364(1): 012029.

[9]
王迅. 发动机喷流干扰对底部热环境影响研究[J]. 宇航总体技术, 2021, 5 (02): 24-30.

WANG X. Study on the influence of Engine Jet Interference on Bottom thermal environment[J]. Aerospace General Technology, 2021, 5 (02): 24-30.

[10]
周志坛, 丁逸夫, 乐贵高, 等. 高空飞行环境中液体运载火箭底部热环境研究[J]. 宇航学报, 2019, 40(5): 577.

ZHOU Z T, DING Y F, LE G G, et al. Thermal environment of bottom of liquid launch vehicle in high-altitude flight environment[J]. Acta Astronautica Sinica, 2019, 40(5): 577.

[11]
周志坛, 李怡庆, 江平, 等. 二次燃烧对多喷管运载火箭底部热环境影响研究[J]. 航空动力学报, 2024(06): 292-303.

ZHOU Z T, LI Y Q, JIANG P, et al. Secondary combustion of rocket nozzle at the bottom of the thermal environment impact study[J]. Journal of air power, 2024(06): 292-303.

[12]
杨岩, 田原, 丁兆波, 等. 多机并联火箭羽流流场及其底部热环境分析[J]. 宇航学报, 2021, 42(11): 1446.

YANG Y, TIAN Y, DING Z B, et al. Analysis of plume flow field and Thermal environment at bottom of multi-jet parallel rocket[J]. Acta Astronautica Sinica, 2021, 42(11): 1446.

[13]
闫指江, 沈丹, 吴彦森, 等. 多喷管运载火箭底部热环境研究[J]. 导弹与航天运载技术, 2021(01): 105-109+114.

YAN Z J, SHEN D, WU Y S, et al. Thermal Environment at the bottom of multi-nozzles launch vehicle[J]. Missiles and Space Launch Vehicles Technology, 2021(01): 105-109+114.

[14]
史亚男. 喷管羽流对捆绑式运载火箭底部热环境的影响研究[D]. 北京: 北京理工大学, 2016.

SHI Y N. Effect of nozzle plume on Thermal environment of bottom of strapped launch vehicle[D]. Beijing: Beijing Institute of Technology, 2016.

[15]
赵一霖, 严立, 来霄毅, 等. 新一代四机并联火箭发动机喷流热环境数值研究[J]. 空天防御, 2023, 6 (01): 109-116.

ZHAO Y l, Yan l, Lai X Y, et al. Numerical study on jet thermal environment of a new generation of four-engine parallel rocket engine[J]. Aerospace Defense, 2023, 6(01): 109-116.

[16]
赵晨耕, 孙中一, 苏逸飞, 等. 高空飞行多级运载火箭基础热环境控制研究[J]. 航空动力学报: 2024, 39(12): 384-394.

ZHAO C G, SUN Z Y, SU Y F, et al. High-flying multistage rocket based thermal environment control research[J]. Journal of air power: 2024, 39(12): 384-394.

[17]
孙中一, 王舒雅, 尉志源, 等. 搭载辅助动力系统的二级火箭底部热环境分析[J]. 空气动力学学报, 2024, 42(07), 48-57.

SUN Z Y, WANG S Y, WEI Z Y, et al. Pick up at the bottom of the auxiliary power system secondary rockets thermal environment analysis[J]. Journal of aerodynamics, 2024, 42(07), 48-57.

[18]
戴欣怡. 固体捆绑火箭内部过程及底部对流热环境研究[D]. 上海交通大学, 2015.

DAI X Y. Research on the internal process and Bottom convective thermal environment of solid-bound rocket[D]. Shanghai: Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 2015.

[19]
蒲鹏宇. 双喷管液氧煤油运载火箭底部热环境研究[D]. 北京: 北京理工大学, 2021.

PU P Y. Research on the Base Heating of a Two-Nozzle LOX/Kerosene Launch Vehicle[D]. Beijing: Beijing Institute of technology, 2021.

[20]
BARLOW R S, KARPETIS A N, FRANK J H, et al. Scalar profiles and NO formation in Laminar opposed-flow partially premixed methane/air flames[J]. Combustion and Flame, 2001, 127(3): 2102-2118.

DOI

[21]
CASSOL F, BRITTES R, CENTENO F R, et al. Evaluation of the gray gas model to compute radiative transfer in non-isothermal, non-homogeneous participating medium contain CO2, H2O and soot[J]. Journal of the Brazilian Society of Mechanical Sciences and Engineering, 2014, 37(1): 163-172.

DOI

[22]
MUSIAL N T, WARD J J. BASE Flow Characteristics for Several Four-Clustered Rocket Configurations at Mach Numbers from 2.0 to 3.5[R]. National aeronautics and space administration Washington, 1961: 1093.

[23]
WANG X, XU X, YANG Q. Base Thermal Environment on Multinozzle Rocket Configurations[J]. Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets, 2022, 59(6): 1966-1975.

DOI

Options
Outlines

/

〈 〉

[an error occurred while processing this directive]