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Shock wave and flame front induced detonation in a rapid compression machine

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Abstract

The present study focuses on one mode of detonation initiation observed in a rapid compression machine (RCM). This mode is referred to as shock wave and flame front-induced detonation (SWFID). Experimental high-speed imaging and two-dimensional numerical simulations with skeletal chemistry are combined to unravel the dominant steps of detonation initiation under SWFID conditions. It is shown that the interaction between the shock wave generated by the end-gas auto-ignition and the spherical flame creates a region of high pressure and temperature which enables the acceleration of the flame front and the detonation onset. The experimental observation lacks adequate spatial and temporal resolution despite good reproducibility of the detonation onset. Based on the numerical results, phenomenological interpretation of the event within the framework of shock wave refraction indicates that the formation of a free-precursor shock wave at the transition between regular and irregular refraction may be responsible for detonation onset. The present results along with previous findings on shock wave reflection-induced detonation in the RCM indicate that super-knock occurs after the interaction of the shock wave generated by end-gas auto-ignition with the RCM walls, preignition flame, or another shock wave.

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Acknowledgements

This work was performed at Tsinghua University and was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 91541206, 51706121), Tsinghua University Initiative Scientific Research Program (Grant No. 20161080114) and China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (Grant No. 2017T100076). Remy Mével was supported by a start-up fund of the Center for Combustion Energy of Tsinghua University. The authors are grateful to J.E. Shepherd from Caltech for useful discussions.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory of Automotive Safety and Energy, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China

    Y. Wang, Y. Qi, S. Xiang & Z. Wang

  2. Center for Combustion Energy, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China

    R. Mével & Z. Wang

  3. Department of Automotive Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China

    R. Mével & Z. Wang

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  1. Y. Wang
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Correspondence to Y. Qi.

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Wang, Y., Qi, Y., Xiang, S. et al. Shock wave and flame front induced detonation in a rapid compression machine. Shock Waves 28, 1109–1116 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00193-018-0832-2

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