Computational Investigation of Fluidic Thrust Vectoring Control in Modified Vikas Nozzle

• Published in: Journal of applied fluid mechanics 2025-03, Vol.18 (3), p.678-697
• Main Authors: Ragavendra, T Harish, Anupama, P A, Pranesh, K S Jai, Lakshmanan, D, Abinaya, R
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: computational analysis; Computer applications; Configuration management; Design; Design analysis; Design modifications; Design of experiments; distinct sonic mach; Effectiveness; Flow characteristics; Flow rates; Fluid flow; Injection; Mass flow rate; Mathematical models; Nozzles; Numerical models; Parameter estimation; Parameter modification; rans based model; Reynolds averaged Navier-Stokes method; system thrust force ratio; throat skewing control; Thrust; Thrust vector control
• ISSN: 1735-3572; 1735-3645
• DOI: 10.47176/jafm.18.3.2915

Over the decades, polar satellite launch vehicles and geosynchronous launch vehicles have utilized variants of the Vikas engine for numerous space operations. The pitching control for those launch vehicles is achieved by gimbaling the Vikas engine nozzle up to ± 4° with mechanical actuating parts. This research investigation dealt with the design modification, analysis, and estimation of performance parameters in the modified Vikas nozzle configurations intended for fluidic thrust vectoring control. Hence, the technique of interest in this investigation was to assess the effects of the fluidic throat skewing technique in an adapted nozzle configuration of the Vikas nozzle. The distinct design configurations were initially iterated with the design of experiments (DOE) method to estimate and adopt an optimum nozzle configuration with higher thrust vectoring effectiveness. The computational analysis utilized the k-e Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) numerical model. The flow characteristics of the resolved nozzle configuration were analyzed and validated under three distinct sonic mach freestreams. Finally, air was employed as the secondary fluid in the injector plenum, and the analysis was carried out by varying the secondary mass injection rates. The analysis results depicted that the implemented fluidic injection thrust vectoring approach was significantly effective by achieving ± 5° of tilt with a system thrust force ratio of 0.9190 for 9% of secondary mass flow rate injection.