Afterburner

(aerospace engineering) A device for augmenting the thrust of a jet engine by burning additional fuel in the uncombined oxygen in the gases from the turbine.

A device in a turbojet aircraft engine, between turbine and nozzle, which improves thrust by the burning of additional fuel (see illustration). To develop additional thrust for takeoff and climb and for periods of dash of military aircraft, it is advantageous to augment the engine thrust. This is done by afterburning, also called reheating, tail-pipe burning, or postcombustion. The augmentation of thrust obtained by afterburning may be well over 40% of the normal thrust and at supersonic flight can exceed 100% of normal thrust. See also Turbojet.

Diagram of turbojet engine showing afterburner.