The Method of Characteristics

The Method of Characteristics
2D Isentropic Compressible Flow
2D Isentropic Compressible Flow
IRROT. MASS+MOMENTUM
v u u 2 u v 2 v 2uv v
 0 (1  2 )  (1  2 )  2 0
x y a x a y a x
ORGANIZE SO AS 
TO SOLVE FOR 
THE VELOCITY 
DERIVATIVES…
DERIVATIVES
Partial  TO MATRIX SOLVE FOR VELOCITY DERIVATIVES…
u 2 u v 2 v 2uv v
(1  2 )  (1  2 )  2 0
Differential 
ff l a x a y a x
v v
Eqns.?
q dy
y
 dx
x
 dv
u v
dx  dy  du
x x

y, v
U

x, u

Mach 2 Nozzle Flow
 Matrix Solution (Cramer’ss Rule)
Matrix Solution (Cramer Rule)
 (1  u 2 / a 2 ) (1  v 2 / a 2 )  2uv / a 2  u / x  0
  
 0 dy dx  v / y   dv
  v / x  du
 dx 0 dy  

(1  u 2 / a 2 ) (1  v 2 / a 2 ) 0
0 dy dv
SOLVING  dx 0 du N
FOR  v / x  
v/x
v/x… (1  u 2 / a 2 ) (1  v 2 / a 2 )  2uv / a 2 D
0 dy dx
dx 0 dy
y, v (1  u 2 / a 2 ) (1  v 2 / a 2 )  2uv / a 2
U

x, u
Denominator 0 dyy dx D
CHARACTERISTIC EQUATIONS dx 0 dy
 Characteristic Lines
Characteristic Lines
dy
 tan(   )
dx
dy
 tan(   )
dx

M>1 
y, v (1  u 2 / a 2 ) (1  v 2 / a 2 ) 0
U

x, u
Numerator 0
dx
dy
0
dv
du N
COMPATABILITY RELATIONS

(1  u 2 / a 2 ) (1  v 2 / a 2 )  2uv / a 2 D
0 dy dx
dx 0 dy
Characteristics ‐ Summary
Characteristics 
C+ (left running)
C (left running)
‐ = const.

Streamline





C‐ (right running)
+ = const.
 C+
Reflected Expansion Fan


 C‐

d g i 3
1
e
l
M1 h
f

a b c 2
k
‐/2 ‐
j
 C+
Reflected Expansion Fan
SOLVING FOR FLOW PROPERTIES IN THE UNIFORM AND SIMPLE REGIONS


 C‐

 
1
2
3

g i a
d 3
1
Given M1=2 e b
l
and so 1 = 26.38o h c
and 1 = 30o f
d
and geometry
e

a b c 2 f
k g
5o
‐5 10o
‐10
j h
i
 C+
Reflected Expansion Fan
SOLVING FOR FLOW PROPERTIES IN THE COMPLEX REGION


 C‐

 
1
2
3

g i a
d 3
1
Given M1=2 e b
l
and so 1 = 26.38o h c
and 1 = 30o f
d
and geometry
e

a b c 2 f
k g
5o
‐5 10o
‐10
j h
i
 C+
Reflected Expansion Fan
SOLVING FOR THE WAVE GEOMETRY


 C‐

  
1 0 26.4 30
2 ‐10 36.4 24.8
P
PowerPoint Solution
P i t S l ti
3 0 46.4 20.5
g i a 0 26.4 30
d 3
1
Given M1=2 e b ‐5
5 31.4 27.2
l
and so 1 = 26.38o h c ‐10 36.4 24.8
and 1 = 30o f
d 0 26.4 30
and geometry
e ‐5 36.4 24.8
a b c 2 f ‐10 36.4 24.8
k g 0 36.4 24.8
5o
‐5 10o
‐10
j h ‐5 41.4 22.6
i 0 46.4 20.5
 C+
Variation
1.  Wave originates at a sudden turn 

 C‐

d g i 3
1
Given M1=2 e l
and so 1 = 26.38o h

and 1 = 30o f
and geometry

O 2
k
‐
j
 C+
Variation
2.  Wave reflects from a jet edge 

 C‐

d
1 g
Given M1=2 e
and so 1 = 26.38o i
h
and 1 = 30o f
and geometry
3
O 2

10o
‐10
PowerPoint Solution
 C+
Variation
3.  Wave cancelation at a wall 

 C‐

a
1 g b
Given M1=2 e c
and so 1 = 26.38o i
h
and 1 = 30o f d

‐= 10o
 Design Applications
Design Applications
1. Constant Mach number turn
1 Constant Mach number turn
2. Wind Tunnel Type Nozzle
3 Rocket Type Nozzle
3. k l
 1. Constant Mach number turn
a. Choose initial turn geometry abc of 
angle /2
b. Compute reflection of wave as though 
f
from a jet edge of constant Mach M
j t d f t t M h M1. 
Shape of jet edge gives shape of 
upper wall.
c. Choose lower wall shape to cancel 
reflected wave at jkl

d
1 g
Given M1 e
h i
f

3
a bc
‐  /2

j k l
‐
2. Wind Tunnel‐Type Nozzle
Straightening Section
Expansion Section
Subsonic
Me
3. Rocket Engine‐Type Nozzle

i

Me

PowerPoint Example
 Matlab Codes and Scripts for the 
Method of Characterisics
h d f h
• Computing and Plotting Simple waves
Computing and Plotting Simple waves
• Computing and Plotting Complex Regions
• Oh f
Other functions
i
• Application Examples
 Basic Simple Wave
Basic Simple Wave
function [a,n,x,y]=simple(ai,ni,xi,yi,le,g)

2 Terminating 
characteristic
3

l
le
Flow
N

1 2 3
N

Incoming wave 
boundary
 Other Simple Wave Functions
Other Simple Wave Functions
function [a,n,x,y]= simpleCancel(ai,ni,xi,yi,c,x0,y0,a0,g)

Outgoing 
wave 
boundary N
3
2
function simpleplot(a,n,x,y,g,cl,ch)
1

(x0 y0)
(x0,y0)

a0

Flow

1 2 3 N

Incoming wave 
boundary
 Basic Complex Wave
Basic Complex Wave
function [a,n,x,y]=complex3(ai,ni,xi,yi,bc,g)

(N,N)
(2,2)
(1,1)

bc ((1,2)
, )
 Other Complex Wave Functions
Other Complex Wave Functions
function [a,n,x,y]=complex3curve(ai,ni,xi,yi,bc,g)

function [a,n,x,y]=complex3free(ai,ni,xi,yi,bc,g)

function [a,n,x,y]=complex4(ap,np,xp,yp,an,nn,xn,yn,g)

function complex3plot(a,n,x,y,g,cl,ch)
function complex4plot(a,n,x,y,g,cl,ch)
 Extras
function uniformplot(a,n,x,y,g,cl,ch)

function n=nu(m,g) function m=m_nu(n,g)

function [x,y]=intercept(x1,y1,t1,x2,y2,t2)

function [x,y,a]=interceptCurve(x1,y1,t1,cf)
[ ,y, ] p ( ,y , , )
 Example: Rocket Engine Nozzle
i
 i   (M e ) / 2

Me

function [a,n,x,y]=simple(ai,ni,xi,yi,le,g)

function [a,n,x,y]=complex3(ai,ni,xi,yi,bc,g)

function [a,n,x,y]= simpleCancel(ai,ni,xi,yi,c,x0,y0,a0,g)

ArocketEngineNozzle.m Matlab Demo

 Example: Rocket  i

Engine Nozzle
l
Me

c ea a
clear all %Mach
% ac 2 minimum
u length
e gt nozzle,
o e, initial
t a tu
turn a
angle
g e a
ai=0.23
0. 3 radians
ad a s
g=1.4;
ai=[.00001 .0001 .001 .005 .01:.01:.23]; %28 waves
xi=zeros(size(ai));yi=ones(size(ai));ni=ai;
le=-1;
figure(1);clf(1);cl=1;ch=2;

[a1,n1,x1,y1]=simple(ai,ni,xi,yi,le,g);
simpleplot(a1,n1,x1,y1,g,cl,ch);

[a2,n2,x2,y2]=complex3(a1(end,:),n1(end,:),x1(end,:),y1(end,:),0,g); %complex wave reflection

complex3plot(a2 n2 x2 y2 g cl ch);
complex3plot(a2,n2,x2,y2,g,cl,ch);

[a3,n3,x3,y3]=simpleCancel(a2(:,end),n2(:,end),x2(:,end),y2(:,end),1,xi(end),yi(end),ai(end),g);
simpleplot(a3,n3,x3,y3,g,cl,ch);

uniformplot([a1(1,1)
p ([ ( , ) a1(2,1)
( , ) 0],[n1(1,1)
],[ ( , ) n1(2,1)
( , ) 0],[x1(1,1)
],[ ( , ) x1(2,1)
( , ) x1(1,1)],…
( , )],
uniformplot([a1(1,end) a1(2,end) a3(2,1)],[n1(1,end) n1(2,end) n3(2,1)],…
uniformplot([a3(1,end) a3(2,end) a3(1,end)],[n3(1,end) n3(2,end) n3(1,end)],…

hold off;caxis([cl ch]);colorbar;axis image

 Pre‐Packaged
Pre Packaged Scripts
Scripts
• Constant Mach Number Turn
• Minimum length nozzle
• Wave interaction
Wave interaction
• Underexpanded jet
• Wind tunnel nozzle
3
4

3 2.5

2 2

1 1.5

0 1
5 10 15 20 25