Nozzle Applet
This is a well written site describing the function of a convergent/divergent rocket nozzle, along with some design code. It is well done, and I thing does a great job of explaining some of the phenomenon associated with nozzle design. While you can understand this without a whole lot of thermodynamics, it would certainly help.
The purpose of this applet is to simulate the operation of a converging-diverging nozzle, perhaps the most important and basic piece of engineering hardware associated with propulsion and the high speed flow of gases. This device was invented by Carl de Laval toward the end of the l9th century and is thus often referred to as the 'de Laval' nozzle. This applet is intended to help students of compressible aerodynamics visualize the flow through this type of nozzle at a range of conditions.
Posted by elkaim at May 26, 2004 12:57 PM