Design and analysis approach for linear aerospike nozzle

The paper presents an aerodynamic design of a simplified linear aerospike nozzle and its detailed exhaust flow analysis with no spike truncation. Analytical method with isentropic planar flow was used to generate the nozzle contour through MATLAB . The developed code produces a number of outputs comprising nozzle wall profile, flow properties along the nozzle wall, thrust coefficient, thrust, as well as amount of nozzle truncation. Results acquired from design code and numerical analyses are compared for observing differences. The numerical analysis adopted an inviscid model carried out through commercially available and reliable computational fluid dynamics (CFD) software. Use of the developed code would assist the readers to perform quick analysis of different aerodynamic design parameters for the aerospike nozzle that has tremendous scope of application in future launch vehicles.