Thrust Vector Control and Adaptive Throttling in Aerospike Engines via Controlled Inner Core Displacement

This proposal presents an innovative aerospike engine concept that utilizes controlled inner core displacement for thrust vector control and adaptive throttling, offering a solution to enhance maneuverability for future space missions. Aerospike engines are known for their high performance across varying altitudes, but they face challenges in achieving effective thrust vectoring and throttling without the complexity and weight of mechanical gimbals or additional secondary thrusters. Traditional approaches to thrust vectoring or throttling typically rely on external actuators, secondary thrust systems, mass flow regulation or fluid injection. This project proposes a method where pneumatically or hydraulically actuated compliant mechanisms, are used to control the position of the inner core of the aerospike nozzle, enabling continuous thrust vectoring and adaptive throttling through internal structural adjustments.
By employing computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations and experimental validation, this research will explore the feasibility of inner core displacement for precise thrust control in aerospike thrusters. Compliant mechanisms, which are flexible structures that can undergo controlled deformation in response to external loads, will be explored as the primary means for controlling the inner core position. These mechanisms are advantageous due to their simplicity, reliability, and ability to minimize mechanical complexity.