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Experimental production of two-dimensional shock waves of arbitrary profile

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Abstract

A concept has been developed, and implemented, where the initial shape of a shock wave can, within limits, be arbitrarily set, with a fixed pressure ratio across it, and the duct into which it propagates can also be arbitrarily defined. A narrow slit is positioned on the end wall of a shock tube and is supplied by the essentially constant pressure behind the reflected wave from the shock tube operation. The wave propagating through the slit then enters a narrow test section positioned perpendicular to the main shock tube axis. Initial studies were for a converging cylindrical shock segment, followed by examples of more complex profiles producing waves having both converging (increasing strength), and diverging (decreasing strength) components.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by a grant from the South African National Research Foundation, grant number 80816, and the Fluxion bursary scheme. The initial design sizing study was done by undergraduate students, Shailan Daya and Milan Beharie, for their final year design project. Their contribution to bringing this project to fruition is much appreciated.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Mechanical, Industrial, and Aeronautical Engineering, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, PO WITS, Johannesburg, 2050, South Africa

    B. Skews, B. Gray & R. Paton

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  1. B. Skews
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  2. B. Gray
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  3. R. Paton
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Correspondence to B. Skews.

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Communicated by H. Olivier.

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Skews, B., Gray, B. & Paton, R. Experimental production of two-dimensional shock waves of arbitrary profile. Shock Waves 25, 1–10 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00193-014-0541-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00193-014-0541-4

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