A Preliminary Investigation of the Behavior of Condensable Jets Discharged into Water

Abstract

Preliminary observations of the behavior of submerged steam nozzles discharging into stationary and moving water are described, and photographs ate presented to show the changes in appearance of the steam jet due to changes in chamber pressure and/or water velocity. The measured static pressure distributions along the longitudinal axis of both a converging nozzle and one of the de Laval type have been plotted showing the contrast between the operation of a steam nozzle discharging into air and that of one submerged in water. A missile running in an air-supported cavity was studied to determine the effect of the discharge of a condensable-jet propulsion unit upon the over-all size and shape on the cavity sheath surrounding the missile; a comparison was made with former experiments in which the propulsion unit used a noncondensing gas for the propellant. The appendix presents the results of a preliminary study of the thrust augmentation effect suggested by Gangwer which is intended as a means for reducing the depth sensitivity of rocket propulsion units operating at high speeds.