Prediction and Measurement of Propulsion System Performance

Abstract

The problem of predicting installed propulsion system performance for a specific configuration from isolated inlet, nozzle and airframe data, and from data for similar configurations is discussed. The degree to which element performance may be isolated from measurements made on an integrated propulsion system will be discussed. An approach to evaluation of external performance of inlets and nozzles is presented. The design of parametric tests and some correlations for afterbody pressure drag from such tests are described. Improvement of data quality from model tests with sophisticated simulation of propulsive flows by pretest studies and in-test quality control are proposed.