Abstract
An extendible nozzle and a dual-bell nozzle are considered to be feasible devices to improve performance of booster engines for near future reusable launch vehicles. Hot firing tests were conducted at a high altitude test stand, using four kinds of nozzles as follows: a standard bell nozzle, a fixed step nozzle simulating the transient nozzle position during nozzle extension, a dual-bell nozzle and a movable extendible nozzle. Measured nozzle performance, pressure distribution and heat transfer characteristics were compared with those of CFD analysis. The dual-bell nozzle performance was shown to be lower than those of the standard bell nozzle and the step nozzle. Reverse flow of combustion gas through the gap between fixed nozzle and movable extendible nozzle was not observed during nozzle extension.
