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Flow in shock tubes with area change at the diaphragm section

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 March 2006

R. A. Alpher
Affiliation:
General Electric Research Laboratory, Schenectady, New York
D. R. White
Affiliation:
General Electric Research Laboratory, Schenectady, New York

Abstract

This paper describes theoretical and experimental studies of the effects on shock tube flows of a monotonic convergence at the diaphragm section. Systematic flow equations are developed for tubes of uniform bore and tubes having either a monotonic convergence or a convergence-divergence in the diaphragm section. Except across the shock front itself, isentropic processes and ideal-gas behaviour have been assumed. Simplified procedures are presented for predicting the ideal-flow parameters over a wide range of operating conditions, as well as for comparing straight and convergent tubes. Such comparisons made by other investigators are found to be incomplete or in error. The experiments described utilize a very simple device for altering the diaphragm section convergence and a multi-station measurement of shock velocity. The expected effect of convergence is verified over a wide range of Mach numbers. Even at Mach numbers where the processes of shock formation can no longer be ignored, it is found that the relative performance between a uniform and convergent tube is preserved.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
© 1958 Cambridge University Press

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Footnotes

A preliminary account of this work was given at the 1957 Annual Meeting of the American Physical Society in New York City.

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