ELECTRIC SHOCK TUBE FOR HIGH VELOCITY SIMULATION

Abstract

Shock tubes were developed capable of producing a gas sample of known conditions at velocities as high as 43,000 ft/sec. The driver of these shock tubes employs a capacitor bank which discharges electrical energy into helium, heating the helium to temperatures of 10,000 - 20,000 K, and raising the pressure to 10,000 - 20,000 psi. The high pressure bursts the scribed diaphragm and the resulting shock wave propagates into the test gas. Extensive diagnostic techniques were employed in the resulting hot gas samples. The growth of this sample was observed optically, and correlations were achieved with theoretical calculations. The observed radiation was compared with and can be used to extend the known radiative properties of high-temperature air. Time-resolved luminous pictures and spectra were also taken to show the purity of the test gas. The speed and attenuation of the shock front were measured. The observed operation of this shock tube was compared to theoretical predictions, and although no precise correlation can be made, the driver gas energy transfer and losses in the shock tube boundary layer can be accounted for. (Author)

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jul 01, 1962
Accession Number
AD0282729

Entities

People

  • John C. Camm
  • Peter H. Rose

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Boundary Layer
  • Electric Power
  • Energy
  • Energy Transfer
  • Gases
  • High Pressure
  • High Temperature
  • Hot Gases
  • Shock
  • Shock Tubes
  • Shock Waves
  • Tubes

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Electrical Engineering
  • Fluid Dynamics.
  • Spectroscopy.