Contour Design Techniques for Super/Hypersonic Wind Tunnel Nozzles

Abstract

A brief tutorial is offered on several techniques for designing nozzle contours for supersonic and hypersonic wind tunnels. A set of conditions sufficient for the existence of a contour that will deliver a uniform test section flow is proposed. A specific iterative second-order-accurate algorithm for solution by the method of characteristics (MOC) is described along with its use in contour design. A widely distributed design code, the CONTUR code by J. C. Sivells, is discussed in some detail, and recommendations for application procedures based on CONTUR are given. Design examples from CONTUR are shown. With MOC as a starting point, a brief description of design-by-analysis methods is presented along with a sample design.