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Mass spectrometric measurements of driver gas arrival in the T4 free-piston shock-tunnel

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Abstract

Available test time is an important issue for ground-based flow research, particularly for impulse facilities such as shock tunnels, where test times of the order of several ms are typical. The early contamination of the test flow by the driver gas in such tunnels restricts the test time. This paper reports measurements of the driver gas arrival time in the test section of the T4 free-piston shock-tunnel over the total enthalpy range 3–17 MJ/kg, using a time-of-flight mass spectrometer. The results confirm measurements made by previous investigators using a choked duct driver gas detector at these conditions, and extend the range of previous mass spectrometer measurements to that of 3–20 MJ/kg. Comparisons of the contamination behaviour of various piston-driven reflected shock tunnels are also made.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Formerly Mechanical Engineering, University of Queensland, Australia

    R. R. Boyce

  2. School of Aerospace, Civil and Mechanical Engineering, University College, University of New South Wales, Australian Defence Force Academy, Canberra, 2600, Australia

    R. R. Boyce

  3. Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency, Kakuda Space Center, 1 Koganesawa, Kimigaya, Kakuda-shi, Miyagi, 981-1525, Japan

    M. Takahashi

  4. Division of Mechanical Engineering, University of Queensland, Brisbane, 4072, Australia

    R. J. Stalker

Authors
  1. R. R. Boyce
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  2. M. Takahashi
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  3. R. J. Stalker
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to R. R. Boyce.

Additional information

Communicated by K. Takayama

PACS 07.75.th; 47.40.-x

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Boyce, R.R., Takahashi, M. & Stalker, R.J. Mass spectrometric measurements of driver gas arrival in the T4 free-piston shock-tunnel. Shock Waves 14, 371–378 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00193-005-0276-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00193-005-0276-3

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