Subscale Nozzle Testing at the P6.2 Test Stand

Subscale tests of nozzle flows have been performed at DLR's P6.2 test facility to investigate side-loads and their origin. Two different nozzle contours, a thrust-optimized and a truncated ideal nozzle with identical performance data are tested. The flowfield is monitored by use of wall pressure measurements and Colour Schlieren photos of the plume. The highest side-loads are measured in the thrust-optimized nozzle, when the separation type changes between free shock separation and restricted shock separation. The side-loads of the truncated ideal nozzle, in which only free shock separation occurs, are significantly lower - only about one third as high.