Chapter 10

Gasdynamics of nozzle flow

A nozzle is an extremely efficient device for converting thermal energy to kinetic energy.
Nozzles come up in a vast range of applications. Obvious ones are the thrust nozzles
of rocket and jet engines. Converging-diverging ducts also come up in aircraft engine
inlets, wind tunnels and in all sorts of piping systems designed to control gas flow. The
flows associated with volcanic and geyser eruptions are influenced by converging-diverging
nozzle geometries that arise naturally in geological formations.

10.1 Area-Mach number function

In Chapter 8 we developed the area-averaged equations of motion.

ṁ dA
d (⇢U ) = ⇢U
A A
✓ ◆
1 2 4Cf dx (Uxm U ) ṁ Fx
d (P ⌧xx ) + ⇢U dU = ⇢U + (10.1)
2 D A A
✓ ◆ ✓ ✓ ◆◆
⌧xx Qx ⌧xx Qx ṁ
d ht + = qw w + htm ht +
⇢ ⇢U ⇢ ⇢U ⇢U A

Assume the only e↵ect on the flow is streamwise area change so that

ṁ = Cf = Fx = q = w = 0. (10.2)

10-1
CHAPTER 10. GASDYNAMICS OF NOZZLE FLOW 10-2

Also assume that streamwise normal stresses and heat fluxes ⌧xx , Qx are small enough to
be neglected. With these assumptions the governing equations (10.1) together with the
perfect gas law reduce to

d (⇢U A) = 0

dP + ⇢U dU = 0
(10.3)
Cp dT + U dU = 0

P = ⇢RT.

Introduce the Mach number

U 2 = RT M 2 . (10.4)

Each of the equations in (10.3) can be expressed in fractional di↵erential form.

d⇢ dU 2 dA
+ + =0
⇢ 2U 2 A

dP M 2 dU 2
+ =0
P 2 U2
(10.5)
dT ( 1) M 2 dU 2
+ =0
T 2 U2
dP d⇢ dT
= +
P ⇢ T

Equation (10.4) can also be written in fractional di↵erential form.

dU 2 dT dM 2
= + (10.6)
U2 T M2

Use the equations for mass, momentum and energy to replace the terms in the equation of
state.

M 2 dU 2 dU 2 dA ( 1) M 2 dU 2
= (10.7)
2 U2 2U 2 A 2 U2
CHAPTER 10. GASDYNAMICS OF NOZZLE FLOW 10-3

Solve for dU 2 /U 2 .

✓ ◆
dU 2 2 dA
= (10.8)
U2 M2 1 A

Equation (10.8) shows the e↵ect of streamwise area change on the speed of the flow. If the
Mach number is less than one then increasing area leads to a decrease in the velocity. But
if the Mach number is greater than one then increasing area leads to an increase in flow
speed. Use (10.8) to replace dU 2 /U 2 in each of the relations in (10.5).

✓ ◆
d⇢ M2 dA
=
⇢ M2 1 A
✓ ◆
dP M2 dA
= (10.9)
P M2 1 A
✓ ◆
dT ( 1) M 2 dA
=
T M2 1 A

Equations (10.9) describe the e↵ects of area change on the thermodynamic state of the
flow. Now use (10.8) and the temperature equation in (10.6).

✓ ◆
2 dA ( 1) M 2 dA dM 2
= + (10.10)
M2 1 A M2 1 A M2

Rearrange (10.10). The e↵ect of area change on the Mach number is

dA M2 1 dM 2
= ⇣ ⇣ ⌘ ⌘ . (10.11)
A 2 1+ 1
M2 M2
2

Equation (10.11) is di↵erent from (10.8) and (10.9) in that it can be integrated from an
initial to a final state. Integrate (10.11) from an initial Mach number M to one.

Z 1 Z A⇤
M2 1 dM 2 dA
⇣ ⇣ ⌘ ⌘ = (10.12)
M2 2 1+ 1
M2 M2 A A
2

The result is
CHAPTER 10. GASDYNAMICS OF NOZZLE FLOW 10-4

✓ ◆ ( ✓ ✓ ◆ ◆ +1 !) 1
A⇤ 1 2
2( 1)
ln = ln (M ) + ln 2 1 + M . (10.13)
A 2
M2

Evaluate (10.13) at the limits

✓ ◆ ✓ ◆ +1 ! ( ✓ ✓ ◆ ◆ +1 !)
A⇤ +1 2( 1) 1 2( 1)
ln = ln ln (M ) + ln 1+ M2
A 2 2
(10.14)
which becomes
0 1
✓ ◆ ✓ ◆ +1
A⇤ B +1 2( 1) M C
ln = ln B
@ ⇣ ⇣ ⌘
C
⌘ +1 A . (10.15)
A 2 1 2( 1)
1+ 2 M2

Exponentiate both sides of (10.15). The result is the all-important area-Mach number
equation.

✓ ◆ +1
A⇤ +1 2( 1) M
f (M ) = = ⇣ ⇣ ⌘ ⌘ +1 (10.16)
A 2 1 2 2( 1)
1+ 2 M

In (10.16) we referenced the integration process to M = 1. The area A⇤ is a reference

area at some point in the channel where M = 1 although such a point need not actually
be present in a given problem. The area-Mach-number function is plotted below for three
values of .
Note that for smaller values of it takes an extremely large area ratio to generate high
Mach number flow. A value of = 1.2 would be typical of the very high temperature
mixture of gases in a rocket exhaust. Conversely, if we want to produce a high Mach
number flow in a reasonable size nozzle, say for a wind tunnel study, an e↵ective method
is to select a monatomic gas such as Helium which has = 1.66. A particularly interesting
feature of (10.16) is the insensitivity of f (M ) to for subsonic flow.

10.1.1 Mass conservation

The result (10.16) can also be derived simply by equating mass flows at any two points in
the channel and using the mass flow relation.
CHAPTER 10. GASDYNAMICS OF NOZZLE FLOW 10-5

Figure 10.1: Area-Mach number function.

ṁ = ⇢U A (10.17)

This can be expressed as

P
ṁ = ⇢U A = ( RT )1/2 M A. (10.18)
RT
Insert

Tt 1
=1+ M2
T 2
✓ ◆ (10.19)
Pt 1 1
= 1+ M2
P 2

into (10.18) to produce

✓ ◆
PA
ṁ = ⇢U A = ⇣ ⌘ +1 p t f (M ) . (10.20)
+1 2( 1) RTt
2

If we equate the mass flows at any two points in a channel (10.20) gives
CHAPTER 10. GASDYNAMICS OF NOZZLE FLOW 10-6

ṁ1 = ṁ2
(10.21)
Pt1 A1 Pt2 A2
p f (M1 ) = p f (M2 ) .
Tt1 Tt2

In the case of an adiabatic (Tt = constant), isentropic (Pt = constant) flow in a channel
(10.16) provides a direct relation between the local area and Mach number.

A1 f (M1 ) = A2 f (M2 ) (10.22)

10.2 A simple convergent nozzle

Figure 10.2 shows a large adiabatic reservoir containing an ideal gas at pressure Pt . The gas
exhausts through a simple convergent nozzle with throat area Ae to the ambient atmosphere
at pressure Pambient . Gas is continuously supplied to the reservoir so that the reservoir
pressure is e↵ectively constant. Assume the gas is calorically perfect, (P = ⇢RT , Cp and
Cv are constant) and assume that wall friction is negligible.
Let’s make this last statement a little more precise. Note that we do not assume that the
gas is inviscid since we want to accommodate the possibility of shock formation somewhere
in the flow. Rather, we make use of the fact that, if the nozzle is large enough, the boundary
layer thickness will be small compared to the diameter of the nozzle enabling most of the
flow to be treated as irrotational and isentropic.

Figure 10.2: Reservoir with a convergent nozzle.

The isentropic assumption works quite well for nozzles that are encountered in most appli-
cations. But if the plenum falls below a few centimeters in size with a nozzle diameter less
CHAPTER 10. GASDYNAMICS OF NOZZLE FLOW 10-7

than a few millimeters then a fully viscous, non-isentropic treatment of the flow is required.
Accurate nozzle design, regardless of size, virtually always requires that the boundary layer
on the wall of the plenum and nozzle is taken into account.
If the ambient pressure equals the reservoir pressure there is, of course, no flow. If Pambient
is slightly below Pt then there is a low-speed, subsonic, approximately isentropic flow from
the plenum to the nozzle. If Pt /Pambient is less than a certain critical value then the
condition that determines the speed of the flow at the exit is that the exit static pressure
is very nearly equal to the ambient pressure.

Pe = Pambient (10.23)

The reason this condition applies is that large pressure di↵erences cannot occur over small
distances in a subsonic flow. Any such di↵erence that might arise, say between the nozzle
exit and a point slightly outside of and above the exit, will be immediately smoothed out by
a readjustment of the whole flow. Some sort of shock or expansion is required to maintain
a pressure discontinuity and this can only occur in supersonic flow. Slight di↵erences in
pressure are present due to the mixing zone that exists outside the nozzle but in subsonic
flow these di↵erences are very small compared to the ambient pressure. Since the flow up
to the exit is approximately isentropic the stagnation pressure Pt is approximately constant
from the reservoir to the nozzle exit and we can write

✓ ✓ ◆ ◆
Pt 1 2
1
= 1+ Me . (10.24)
Pe 2

Using (10.23) and (10.24) we can solve for the Mach number at the nozzle exit in terms of
the applied pressure ratio.

✓ ◆1/2 ✓ ◆ 1 !1/2
2 Pt
Me = 1 (10.25)
1 Pambient

Note that the nozzle area does not appear in this relationship.

10.2.1 The phenomenon of choking

The exit Mach number reaches one when

✓ ◆
Pt +1 1
= . (10.26)
Pambient 2
CHAPTER 10. GASDYNAMICS OF NOZZLE FLOW 10-8

For Air with = 1.4 this critical pressure ratio is Pt /Pambient = 1.893 and the condition ??
holds for 1  Pt /Pambient  1.893. At Pt /Pambient = 1.893 the area-Mach number function
f (M ) is at its maximum value of one. At this condition the mass flow through the nozzle
is as large as it can be for the given reservoir stagnation pressure and temperature and the
nozzle is said to be choked.
If Pt /Pambient is increased above the critical value the flow from the reservoir to the nozzle
throat will be una↵ected; the Mach number will remain Me = 1 and Pt /Pambient = 1.893.
However condition (10.23) will no longer hold because now Pe > Pambient . The flow exiting
the nozzle will tend to expand supersonically eventually adjusting to the ambient pressure
through a system of expansions and shocks.

Figure 10.3: Plenum exhausting to very low pressure.

10.3 The converging-diverging nozzle

Now let’s generalize these ideas to the situation where the nozzle consists of a converging
section upstream of the throat and a diverging section downstream. Consider the nozzle
geometry shown below.
The goal is to completely determine the flow in the nozzle given the pressure ratio Pt /Pambient
and the area ratio Ae /Athroat . Before analyzing the flow we should first work out the critical
exit Mach numbers and pressures for the selected area ratio. Solving

✓ ◆ +1
Athroat +1 2( 1) Me
= ⇣ ⇣ ⌘ ⌘ +1 (10.27)
Ae 2 1 2 2( 1)
1+ 2 Me

gives two critical Mach numbers Mea < 1 and Meb > 1 for isentropic flow in the nozzle with
M = 1 at the throat. The corresponding critical exit pressures are determined from
CHAPTER 10. GASDYNAMICS OF NOZZLE FLOW 10-9

Figure 10.4: Converging-diverging geometry

✓ ✓ ◆ ◆
Pt 1 2
1
= 1+ Mea
Pea 2
(10.28)
✓ ✓ ◆ ◆
Pt 1 1
= 1+ Meb 2 .
Peb 2

There are several possible cases to consider.

10.3.1 Case 1 - Isentropic subsonic flow in the nozzle

If Pt /Pambient is not too large then the flow throughout the nozzle will be sub- sonic and
isentropic and the pressure at the exit will match the ambient pressure. In this instance
the exit Mach number is determined using (10.25).
If Pt /Pambient is increased there is a critical value that leads to choking at the throat. This
flow condition is sketched below.

Figure 10.5: Onset of choking.

The exit Mach number is Mea and the pressure ratio is Pt /Pambient = Pt /Pea . Note that
when a diverging section is present the pressure ratio that leads to choking is less than
CHAPTER 10. GASDYNAMICS OF NOZZLE FLOW 10-10

that given by (10.26). The flow in the nozzle is all subsonic when the pressure ratio is in
the range

Pt Pt
1< < . (10.29)
Pambient Pea

10.3.2 Case 2 - Non-isentropic flow - shock in the nozzle

If the pressure ratio is increased above Pt /Pea a normal shock will form downstream of
the throat, the exit Mach number remains subsonic and the exit pressure will continue to
match the ambient pressure. This flow condition is shown below.

Figure 10.6: Shock in nozzle.

The entropy is constant up to the shock wave, increases across the wave and remains
constant to the exit. To work out the flow properties, first equate mass flows at the throat
and nozzle exit

ṁthroat = ṁexit (10.30)

or

Pt Athroat = Pte Ae f (Me ) . (10.31)

The key piece of information that enables us to solve for the flow is that the exit pressure
still matches the ambient pressure and so we can write

✓ ✓ ◆ ◆ ✓ ✓ ◆ ◆
1 2
1 1 2
1
Pte = Pe 1 + Me = Pambient 1 + Me . (10.32)
2 2

When (10.32) is incorporated into (10.31) the result is

CHAPTER 10. GASDYNAMICS OF NOZZLE FLOW 10-11

✓ ◆✓ ◆ ✓ ◆ +1 ✓ ✓ ◆ ◆1
Pt Athroat +1 2( 1) 1 2
2
= Me 1 + Me . (10.33)
Pambient Ae 2 2

The items on the left side of (10.33) are known quantities and so one solves (10.33) implicitly
for Me < 1. With the exit Mach number known, (10.31) is used to determine the stagnation
pressure ratio across the nozzle.
✓ ◆ ✓ ◆
Pte Athroat 1
= <1 (10.34)
Pt Ae f (Me )

Since the only mechanism for stagnation pressure loss is the normal shock, the value of
Pte /Pt determined from (10.34) can be used to infer the shock Mach number from

0 ⇣ ⌘ 1 0 1 1
✓ ◆ +1
M 2 shock
1
+1 1
Pte 2
=@ ⇣ ⌘ A @ 2 ⇣ ⌘A . (10.35)
Pt 1 + 2 1 M 2 shock M 2 shock 1
2

Thus all of the important properties of the flow in the nozzle are known given the plenum
to ambient pressure ratio and the nozzle area ratio.
As the nozzle pressure ratio is increased, the shock moves more and more downstream until
it is situated at the nozzle exit. This flow condition is shown below.

Figure 10.7: Normal shock at the nozzle exit.

In this case the Mach number just ahead of the shock is the supersonic critical value Meb
and the Mach number just behind is the corresponding subsonic value derived from normal
shock relations.
⇣ ⌘
1
1+ 2 M 2 eb
2 ⇣ ⌘
M e(behindshock) = (10.36)
1
M 2 eb 2
CHAPTER 10. GASDYNAMICS OF NOZZLE FLOW 10-12

The value of Pt /Pambient that produces this flow is

✓ ◆✓ ◆ +1 ✓ ✓ ◆ ◆1
Pt Ae +1 2( 1) 1 2
2
= Me(behindshock) 1 + Me(behindshock) .
Pambient exit?shock Athroat 2 2
(10.37)
The shock-in-the-nozzle case occurs over the range

Pt Pt Pt
< < . (10.38)
Pea Pambient Pambient exit?shock

10.3.3 Case 3 - Isentropic supersonic flow in the nozzle

If the nozzle pressure ratio exceeds the value given in (10.37) then no further changes occur
in the flow within the nozzle. Three di↵erent cases are distinguished.
i) Over expanded flow - This corresponds to the range

Pt Pt Pt
< < . (10.39)
Pambient exit?shock Pambient Peb

In this case the flow passes through an oblique shock as it exhausts.

Figure 10.8: Oblique shock at the nozzle exit.

ii) Fully expanded flow - This is the case where

Pt Pt
= . (10.40)
Pambient Peb

The exit pressure now matches the ambient pressure and the flow exhausts smoothly.
CHAPTER 10. GASDYNAMICS OF NOZZLE FLOW 10-13

Figure 10.9: Fully expanded flow.

iii) Under expanded flow - This corresponds to the range

Pt Pt
> . (10.41)
Pambient Peb

In this case the exit pressure exceeds the ambient pressure and the flow expands outward
as it leaves the nozzle.

Figure 10.10: Expansion fan at the nozzle exit.

A good example of the occurrence of all three conditions is the Space Shuttle Main Engine
which leaves the pad in an over expanded state, becomes fully expanded at high altitude
and then extremely under expanded as the Shuttle approaches the vacuum of space.

10.4 Examples

10.4.1 Shock in a nozzle

A normal shock is stabilized in the diverging section of a nozzle. The area ratios are,
As /Athroat = 2, Ae /Athroat = 4 and A1 = Ae .
CHAPTER 10. GASDYNAMICS OF NOZZLE FLOW 10-14

Figure 10.11: Converging-diverging nozzle with shock.

1) Determine M1 , Me , the Mach number just ahead of the shock Ma , and the Mach number
just behind the shock, Mb . Assume the gas is Air with = 1.4.
Solution
The area ratio from the throat to the shock is 2. One needs to solve

f (Ma ) = 1/2 (10.42)

for the supersonic root. The solution from tables or a calculator is Ma = 2.197. The
normal shock relation for the downstream Mach number is
⇣ ⌘
1
1+ 2 Ma2
Mb2 = ⇣ ⌘ (10.43)
1
Ma2 2

which gives Mb = 0.547. At station 1 the area ratio to the throat is 4 and the Mach number
is subsonic. Solve for the subsonic root of

f (M1 ) = 1/4. (10.44)

The solution is M1 = 0.147. The area ratio from behind the shock to station e is two. If
we equate mass flows at both points and assume isentropic flow from station b to e we can
write

Ab f (Mb ) = Ae f (Me ) . (10.45)

CHAPTER 10. GASDYNAMICS OF NOZZLE FLOW 10-15

Solve (10.45) for f (Me ).

Ab
f (Me ) = f (Mb ) = (1/2) (0.794) = 0.397 (10.46)
Ae

The exit Mach number is Me = 0.238. So far the structure of the flow is as shown
below.

Figure 10.12: Converging-diverging nozzle with Mach numbers labeled.

2) Determine the pressure ratio across the nozzle, Pe /Pt1 .

Solution
Since the exit flow is subsonic the exit pressure matches the ambient pressure. Use
(10.33).

Pe (Athroat /Ae )
=⇣ ⌘ +1 ⇣ ⇣ ⌘ ⌘1/2
Pt1 +1
Me 1 + 2 1 Me2
2( 1)
2
(10.47)
(1/4)
= ⇣ ⌘1/2 = 0.604
1 3
2 (0.238) 1 + (1/5) (0.238)2

3) What pressure ratio would be required to position the shock at station e?

Solution
The structure of the flow in this case would be as shown in 10.13. To determine the pressure
ratio that produces this flow use (10.37).
CHAPTER 10. GASDYNAMICS OF NOZZLE FLOW 10-16

Figure 10.13: Converging-diverging nozzle with shock at the exit.

Pt Pt1
= =
Pambient exit?shock Pe exit?shock

✓ ◆✓ ◆ +1 ✓ ✓ ◆ ◆1
Ae +1 2( 1) 1 2
2
Me(behindshock) 1 + Me(behindshock) = (10.48)
Athroat 2 2

Pe 1
= ⇣ ⌘ 1 = 0.295
Pt1
4(1.2)3 (0.479) 1 + (1/5) (0.479)2
exit?shock 2

This is considerably lower than the pressure ratio determined in part 2.

10.4.2 Cold gas thruster

A cold gas thruster on a spacecraft uses Helium (atomic weight 4) as the working gas. The
gas exhausts through a large area ratio nozzle to the vacuum of space. Compare the energy
of a parcel of gas in the fully-expanded exhaust to the energy it had when it was in the
chamber.
Answer
In the chamber the energy per unit mass, neglecting kinetic energy is

Echamber = Cv Tchamber . (10.49)

CHAPTER 10. GASDYNAMICS OF NOZZLE FLOW 10-17

Assume the expansion takes place adiabatically. Under that assumption, the stagnation
enthalpy is conserved.

1
Cp Tchamber = Cp T + U 2 = constant (10.50)
2

Since the area ratio is large the thermal energy of the exhaust gas is small compared to
the kinetic energy.

1 2 ⇠ 1 2 ⇠
Eexhaust = Cv Texhaust + Uexhaust = Uexhaust = Cp Tchamber (10.51)
2 2

Divide (10.51) by U1 2 . The result is

Eexhaust Cp Tchamber 5
= = = . (10.52)
Echamber Cv Texhaust 3

The energy gained by the fluid element during the expansion process is due to the pressure
forces that accelerate the element. In fact what is recovered is exactly the work required
to create the original pressurized state.

10.4.3 Gasdynamics of a double throat, starting and unstarting super-

sonic flow

One of the most important applications of the gas-dynamic tools we have been developing
is to a channel with multiple throats. Virtually all air-breathing propulsion systems utilize
at least two throats; one to decelerate the incoming flow and a second to accelerate the exit
flow. When a compressor and turbine are present several more throats may be involved.
The simplest application of of two throats is to the design of a supersonic wind tunnel.
Shown below is a supersonic wind tunnel that uses air as the working gas.
A very large plenum contains the gas at constant stagnation pressure and temperature, Pt ,
Tt . The flow exhausts to a large tank that is maintained at vacuum Pa = 0. The upstream
nozzle area ratio is A2 /A1 = 6 and the ratio of exit area to throat area is Ae /A1 = 2.
The test section has a constant area A3 = A2 . A shock wave is stabilized in the diverging
portion of the nozzle. The wall friction coefficient is very small.
1) Determine Pte /Pe .
Solution
The mass balance between stations 1 and e is
CHAPTER 10. GASDYNAMICS OF NOZZLE FLOW 10-18

Figure 10.14: Supersonic wind tunnel with two throats.

ṁ1 = ṁe
(10.53)
P A P A
p t1 1 f (M1 ) = p te e f (Me ) .
RTt1 RTte

The flow exits to vacuum and so the large pressure ratio across the system essentially
guarantees that both throats must be choked, M1 = 1 and Me = 1. Assume the flow
is adiabatic and neglect wall friction. With these assumptions the mass balance (10.53).
reduces to

Pte A1
= = 0.5. (10.54)
Pt Ae

2) Determine the shock Mach number

Solution
From the relations for shock wave flow, the shock Mach number that reduces the stagnation
pressure by half for a gas with = 1.4 is Ms = 2.5.
3) Determine the Mach numbers at stations 2 and 3.
Solution
CHAPTER 10. GASDYNAMICS OF NOZZLE FLOW 10-19

The Mach number at station 3 is determined by the area ratio from 3 to e and the fact
that the exit is choked.

Ae 1
= ) M3 = 0.195 (10.55)
A3 3

Since the area of the test section is constant and friction is neglected the Mach number at
station 2 is the same M2 = 0.195.
4) Suppose Ae is reduced to the point where Ae = A1 . What happens to the shock?
Solution
Again use the mass flow equation (10.20) and equate mass flows at the two throats. In this
case (10.53) is

Pte A1
= = 1.0. (10.56)
Pt Ae

There is no shock and therefore there is no stagnation pressure loss between the two throats.
As Ae is reduced the shock moves upstream to lower Mach numbers till a point is reached
when the two areas are equal. At that point the shock has essentially weakened to the
point of disappearing altogether.
5) Suppose Ae is made smaller than A1 , what happens?
Solution
Since both the stagnation pressure and temperature are now constant along the channel
and the exit throat is choked the mass balance (10.53) becomes

Ae
f (M1 ) = . (10.57)
A1

The Mach number at the upstream throat becomes subsonic and satisfies (10.57) as the
area is further reduced.
6) Suppose Ae is increased above Ae /A1 = 2. What happens to the shock?
Solution
In this case the shock moves downstream to higher Mach numbers. The highest Mach
number that the shock can reach is at the end of the expansion section of the upstream
nozzle where the area ratio is A2 /A1 = 6. Equation (10.16) gives the Mach number of the
shock at that point as M2 = 3.368. The corresponding stagnation pressure ratio across
CHAPTER 10. GASDYNAMICS OF NOZZLE FLOW 10-20

the shock is Pte /Pt = 0.2388. Using the mass balance again, the throat area ratio that
produces this condition is

Ae Pt
= = 4.188. (10.58)
A1 Pte

Throughout this process the exit is at Me = 1 and the flow in the test section is subsonic
due to the presence of the shock. In fact the Mach number in the test section from station
2 to 3 would be the Mach number behind a Mach 3.368 shock which is 0.4566. Note that
this is consistent with the area ratio A3 /Ae = 6/4.188 = 1.433 for which the subsonic
solution of (10.16) is 0.4566.
7) Now suppose Ae /A1 is increased just slightly above 4.188, what happens?
Solution
Again go back to the mass flow relation (10.53). Write (10.53) as

Pt1 A1 = Pte Ae f (Me ) . (10.59)

The upstream throat is choked and so the mass flow is fixed and the left-hand-side of
(10.59) is fixed. The shock is at the highest Mach number it can reach given the area ratio
of the upstream nozzle. So as Ae /A1 is increased above 4.188 there is no way for Pte /Pt to
decrease so as to maintain the equality (10.59) enforced by mass conservation. Instead an
event occurs and that event is that the shock is swallowed by the downstream throat and
supersonic flow is established in the test section. The supersonic wind tunnel is said to be
started. Since there is no shock present the flow throughout the system is isentropic and
the mass balance (10.59) becomes

A1 1
f (Me ) = = . (10.60)
Ae 4.188

The Mach number at the exit throat is now the supersonic root of (10.60), Me = 2.99. If
Ae /A1 is increased further the exit Mach number increases according to Equation (10.60). If
Ae /A1 is reduced below 4.188 the exit Mach number reduces below 2.99 until it approaches
one from above as Ae /A1 ! 1 + ". If Ae /A1 is reduced below one the wind tunnel unstarts
and the flow between 1 and the exit is all subsonic (no shock) with M1 = Me = 1.

10.5 Problems

Problem 1 - Consider the expression ⇢U n . The value n = 1 corresponds to the mass flux,
CHAPTER 10. GASDYNAMICS OF NOZZLE FLOW 10-21

n = 2 corresponds to the momentum flux and n = 3 corresponds to the energy flux of a

compressible gas. Use the momentum equation

dP + ⇢U dU = 0 (10.61)

to determine the Mach number (as a function of n) at which ⇢U n ; n = 1 is a maximum in

steady flow.
Problem 2 - In the double-throat example above the flow exhausts into a vacuum chamber.
Suppose the pressure Pa is not zero. What is the maximum pressure ratio Pa /Pt that would
be required for the supersonic tunnel to start as described in the example? The exit area
can be varied as required.
Problem 3 - In the double-throat example above suppose the e↵ect of wall friction is
included. How would the answers to the problem change? Would the various values
calculated in the problem increase, decrease or remain the same and why?
Problem 4 - Figure 10.15 shows a supersonic wind tunnel which uses helium as a working
gas. A very large plenum contains the gas at constant stagnation pressure and temperature
Pt , Tt . Supersonic flow is established in the test section and the flow exhausts to a large
tank at pressure Pa .

Figure 10.15: Supersonic wind tunnel with variable area exit.

The exit area Ae can be varied in order to change the flow conditions in the tunnel Initially
A2 /Ae = 4, and A2 /A1 = 8. The gas temperature in the plenum is Tt = 300K. Neglect
wall friction. Let Pt /Pa = 40.
1) Determine the Mach numbers at Ae , A1 and A2 .
CHAPTER 10. GASDYNAMICS OF NOZZLE FLOW 10-22

2) Determine the velocity Ue and pressure ratio Pe /Pa .

3) Suppose Ae is reduced. Determine the value of Ae /A2 which would cause the Mach
number at Ae to approach one (from above). Suppose Ae is reduced slightly below this
value - what happens to the supersonic flow in the tunnel? Determine Pte /Pt and the Mach
numbers at A1 , A2 and Ae for this case.
Problem 5 - Figure 10.16 shows a supersonic wind tunnel which uses air as the working gas.
A very large plenum contains the gas at constant stagnation pressure and temperature, Pt ,
Tt . The flow exhausts to a large tank that is maintained at vacuum Pa = 0. The upstream
nozzle area ratio is A2 /A1 = 3. The downstream throat area Ae can be varied in order to
change the flow conditions in the tunnel. Initially, Ae = 0. Neglect wall friction. Assign
numerical values where appropriate.

Figure 10.16: Supersonic wind tunnel exiting to vacuum.

1) Suppose Ae /A1 is slowly increased from zero. Plot Pte /Pt as a function of Ae /A1 for
the range 0  Ae /A1  3.
2) Now with Ae /A1 = 3 initially, let Ae be decreased back to zero. Plot Pte /Pt as a function
of Ae /A1 for this process.
Problem 6 - In Chapter 2 we looked at the blowdown through a small nozzle of a calorically
perfect gas from a large adiabatic pressure vessel at initial pressure Pi and temperature
Ti to the surroundings at pressure Pa and temperature Ta . I would like you to reconsider
that problem from the point of view of the conservation equations for mass and energy.
Use a control volume analysis to determine the relationship between the pressure, density
and temperature in the vessel as the mass is expelled. Show that the final temperature
derived from a control volume analysis is the same as that predicted by integrating the
Gibbs equation.
Problem 7 - Consider the inverse of Problem 6. A highly evacuated, thermally insulated
CHAPTER 10. GASDYNAMICS OF NOZZLE FLOW 10-23

flask is placed in a room with air temperature Ta . The air is allowed to enter the flask
through a slightly opened stopcock until the pressure inside equals the pressure in the
room. Assume the air to be calorically perfect. State any other assumptions needed to
solve the problem.
(i)Use a control volume analysis to determine the relationship between the pressure, density
and temperature in the vessel as mass enters the vessel.
(ii)Determine the entropy change per unit mass during the process for the gas that enters
the vessel.
(iii)Determine the final temperature of the gas in the vessel.
May I suggest that you break the process into two parts. When the stopcock is first opened,
the opening is choked and the flow outside the flask is steady. But after a while the opening
un-chokes and the pressure at the opening increases with time. In the latter case the flow
outside the flask is unsteady and one needs to think of a reasonable model of the flow in
order to solve the problem.