Performance study of compound-adjustable ducted rockets

The major problems of current ducted rockets with fixed-geometry inlet/nozzle are summarized, and the adjustment demand of variable-geometry inlet/nozzle for ramjet thermodynamic cycle is listed as well. Next, the performances of ducted rockets with fixed-geometry, adjustable inlet, adjustable nozzle and compound-adjustable inlet/nozzle are compared and analyzed. Results show that: inlet adjustment decreases the engine performance in most case due to the larger nozzle throat; nozzle adjustment gives a full play to optimum performance of inlet, therefore enhances engine performance; the inlet/nozzle compound-adjustment improves the ramjet thermodynamic cycle during high speed cruising, which greatly increases the performance of ducted rocket. ©, 2015, Journal of Solid Rocket Technology. All right reserved.