Color schlieren methods in shock wave research

Schlieren methods are widely known and well established to visualize refractive index variations in transparent media. The use of color allows one to obtain more data and previously inaccessible information from a picture taken with this technique. In general, a hue can be related to a certain strength or a certain direction of a refractive index gradient. While the first case essentially corresponds to the usual black- and-white system the latter correlation cannot be made adequately evident without the use of color. Two color schlieren techniques are presented here, which reach or even exceed the quality and sensitivity range of conventional black- and-white methods. Using a powerful short duration light source these methods are applied to visualize transient flow phenomena in a shock tube.This article was processed using Springer-Verlag T_EX Shock Waves macro package 1990.     

Dynamic calibration of force balances for impulse hypersonic facilities

This paper analyzes different techniques for the calibration of force balances for use in short-duration impulse hypersonic facilities such as shock tunnels. The background to how deconvolution can be used to infer aerodynamic forces on models in impulse hypersonic wind tunnels is presented along with the theory behind the different calibration techniques. Four calibration techniques are applied to a single-component stress-wave force balance. Experiments in the T4 shock tunnel using the balance demonstrate the suitability of the different calibrations for force measurements in an impulse facility. Cross checks between the calibration techniques are used to check their ranges of validity. It is shown that the impulse response derived from tests in which the model and force balance are suspended from a fine wire and the wire cut agree well with impulse responses derived from calibrations made using an impact hammer. The suitability of the balance for measuring dynamic forces is demonstrated by showing that the drag force on a model follows the history of Pitot pressure in the test section in the tunnel shots.Received: 17 May 2002, Accepted: 11 December 2002, Published online: 6 March 2003PACS: 47.40.Ki, 47.80.+v, 07.10.Pz     

Density reconstruction from laser schlieren signal in shock tube experiments

Using a diffraction approach the convolution-type integral equation for the laser schlieren signal created by an arbitrary disturbance at low pressure, where refractive index of disturbance is close to unity, in a shock tube (thin optical layer) has been deduced. In the equation electric circuit relaxation processes were taken into account by a response function. The equation was solved with the aid of the regularization method worked out for ill-posed problems. The density structures of the strong shock waves in air have numerically been reconstructed from experimental data ranging shock wave Mach number of –30, and –30 Pa. Received 7 April 1996 / Accepted 20 June 1996     

Application of background oriented schlieren for quantitative measurements of shock waves from explosions

This paper describes application of a background oriented schlieren technique in order to obtain quantitative measurements of shock waves from explosions by processing high speed digital video recordings. The technique is illustrated by an analysis of two explosions, a high explosive test and a hydrogen gas explosion test. The visualization of the shock front is utilized to calculate the shock Mach number, leading to a predicted shock front pressure. For high explosives the method agreed quite well with a standard curve for side-on shock pressures. In the case of the gas explosion test we can also show that the shock front is non-spherical. It should be possible to develop this technique to investigate external blast waves and external explosions from vented gas explosions in more details. This paper is based on work that was presented at the 21th International Colloquium on the Dynamics of Explosions and Reactive Systems, Poitiers, France, July 23–27, 2007.     

Colour-coding schlieren techniques for the optical study of heat and fluid flow

This survey presents a unified view of the history, rationale, applications, and current status of colour-coding schlieren optical techniques, based on an extensive literature review. The characteristics and advantages of this unique flow visualization tool are discussed in terms of one- and two-dimensional colour-coding, qualitative and quantitative visualisations, and system sensitivity, range and resolution. In particular, the use of matched spatial filters to tailor the schlieren optics for specific applications is stressed. A wide range of past applications in fluid flow and heat transfer is surveyed. Connections are drawn among these applications and some new applications are discussed.     

Shock tunnel flow visualization using planar laser-induced fluorescence imaging of NO and OH

Temporal sequences of planar laser-induced fluorescence (PLIF) images of several high-speed, transient flowfields created in a reflection-type shock tunnel facility were acquired. In each case, the test gas contained either nitric oxide or the hydroxyl radical, the fluorescent species. The processes of shock reflection from an endwall with a converging nozzle and of underexpanded free jet formation were examined. A comparison was also made between PLIF imaging and shadow photography. The investigation demonstrated some of the capabilities of PLIF imaging diagnostics in complex, transient, hypersonic flowfields, including those with combustion.Nomenclature A spontaneous emission rate - A _las cross sectional area of laser sheet - B laser absorption rate - C _opt constant dependent on optical arrangement, collection efficiency, etc. - D nozzle throat diameter - E _p laser pulse energy - f _J Boltzmann fraction of absorbing state - g spectral convolution of laser and absorption lineshapes - k Boltzmann constant - M _s incident shock Mach number - N noise, root-mean-square signal fluctuation - P static pressure - P ₁ initial pressure of test gas in shock tube - P _a free jet ambient pressure - P _s stagnation pressure - Q electronic quenching rate of excited state - S PLIF signal - t time between shock reflection and image acquisition - T static temperature - T _s stagnation temperature - _a mole fraction of absorbing species     

Surface oil flow technique and liquid crystal thermography for flow visualization in impulse,wind tunnels

This paper describes flow visualization techniques employing surface oil flow and liquid crystal thermography suitable for use in impulse wind tunnels. High spatial resolution photographs of oil flow patterns and liquid crystal thermograms have been obtained within test times ranging from 7 to 500 ms and have been shown to be very useful for revealing the detailed features of 3-D separated flow. The results from oil flow patterns, liquid crystal thermograms, schlieren photographs and heat flux measurements are shown to be in good agreement.     

A compact shock-assisted free-piston driver for impulse facilities

A free-piston driver that employs entropy-raising shock processes with diaphragm rupture has been constructed, which promises significant theoretical advantages over isentropic compression. Results from a range of conditions with helium and argon driver gases are reported. Significant performance gains were achieved in some test cases. Heat losses are shown to have a strong effect on driver processes. Measurements compare well with predictions from a quasi-one-dimensional numerical code. Received 7 September 1996 / Accepted 5 October 1996     

Jet interaction at supersonic cross flow conditions

The thrust produced by lateral jet systems has been successfully used for several years to control the flight trajectory, i.e., the maneuverability of spacecraft in the high atmosphere and in orbit. Recently this technology has also been applied to projectiles and rockets flying in the low atmosphere from sea level up to more than 10 km. At ISL, investigations have been performed with a 90 mm caliber full-scale projectile in order to study a special side jet controlling system at flight speeds of about 1500 m/s, i.e., Mach number at altitudes of 1.5 and 7.5 km. The High Energy ISL Shock Tunnel facility is used as a ground testing facility in which the flow around the projectile is studied at fully duplicated flight conditions. In the test facility the projectile is fixed inside the test chamber and the atmospheric air is set in motion flowing around the projectile test model. The air flow is generated in the ISL Shock Tunnel STB which is equipped for this purpose with a divergent square nozzle with an exit side length of 184 mm. A lateral gas jet is produced by combusting a solid propellant in a combustion chamber, placed inside the projectile. The powder gases are blown out laterally via a nozzle, creating a complex flow field by the interaction of the lateral jet with the external cross flow. Differential interferometry is used to visualize the behavior of the external flow field distorted by the lateral jet outflow. Numerical simulations have been performed based on steady state computations using the conservation equations of mass, momentum and energy. This was done to theoretically predict the development of the flow field around the projectile under the influence of the side jet. As final result the lateral force acting on the projectile is given as force and moment amplification factors, K_F and K_M respectively.Received: 7 May 2002, Accepted: 12 March 2003, Published online: 16 May 2003An abridged version of this paper was presented at the 23rd Int. Symposium on Shock Waves at Fort Worth, Texas, from July 22 to 27, 2001     

A computational technique for high enthalpy shock tube and shock tunnel flow simulation

A contact discontinuity tracking method with a specially designed moving grid is developed to eliminate the interface smearing completely. In order to precisely locate the contact surface, an updated Riemann solver for unsteady one-dimensional inviscid flows is also developed to allow consideration of the specific heat ratio change across the shock wave. These two new computational techniques are illustrated in a high Mach number shock tube flow field computation. Received 30 October 1997 / Accepted 6 December 1997     

Slipping zone location in squeeze flow

In squeeze flow rheometry, the main problem is the boundary condition between the squeezed material and the plates. Therefore, the crucial assumption is to know the location and the shape of the sample part where wall slip may or may not occur. This question is investigated from experimental results. For this, squeeze flow experiments are carried out to visualize the flow pattern at the walls. Influence of boundary conditions is particularly studied using different plate surface condition. As a result, with wall slipping conditions, we propose a flow modelling divided into two zones: a circular central zone of the sample sticks on the plates and, beyond that zone, the sample slips at the plates with friction.     

An improved method to determine free stream conditions in hypersonic facilities

For determing pressure coefficients and Stanton numbers from the measured surface pressures and heat fluxes at a model surface, the dynamic pressure, mass flux and the total enthalpy of the free stream have to be known. Usually these values are determined by computing the wind tunnel nozzle flow. But a lot of uncertainties enter the computation which may lead to unreliable results. Therefore, a simple method was developed which yields the desired free stream conditions with high accuracy. This could be achieved by using mainly values which are measured within the test section. The method requires the measurement of the Pilot pressure, the stagnation point heat flux on a sphere and the static pressure of the free stream. For the static pressure an estimated value can also be used, because it has no large influence on the result. Some simple considerations show that the derived method is also valid for nonequilibrium free stream conditions. With the procedure presented the accuracy of the pressure coefficients and Stanton numbers could be increased significantly. Further, it improved the repeatability of these test results. This is very important for fundamental research, for the design of hypersonic vehicles as well as for CFD-validation with experimental data. The application of the method presented is not limited to short duration facilities, it can also be used for continuously working wind tunnels.This article was processed using Springer-Verlag T_EX Shock Waves macro package 1.0 and the AMS fonts, developed by the American Mathematical Society.     

高超声速钝锥流场红外辐射实验研究

报道了在JF-10氢氧爆轰驱动高焓激波风洞中开展的再入流场红外辐射实验研究. 风洞的试 验状态为：驻室总压19.6MPa, 总焓15.5MJ/kg, 自由流速度约5 km/s. 实验以锑化铟多元红外成像系统为测量手段，以球头钝锥体为试验模型，测量激波层与近尾流中红外辐射功率 的横向分布剖面. 试验数据呈现明显的规律性. 试验结果表明，激波层内壁面附近的红外辐 射功率较小，中间有一区域辐射较大且相对均匀，激波层外缘辐射单调减小；尾流中红外辐 射功率在轴线附近的核心区最大，随着离轴线距离的增大而单调减小.     

A comparison of visualization of Stokes flow in a V-shaped and rectangular channel

A comparative study of visualization of Stokes flow induced by rotation of a circular cylinder in a V-shaped and rectangular channel was performed. The visualization was carried out using solid tracers of magnesium. Some quantitative data were deduced from visualization photographs and a comparison was made.     

Computational study of reacting flow establishment in expansion tube facilities

We study the temporal evolution of the combustion flowfield established by the interaction of ram accelerator-type projectiles with an explosive gas mixture accelerated to hypersonic speeds in an expansion tube. The Navier-Stokes equations for a chemically reacting gas mixture are solved in a fully coupled manner using an implicit, time accurate algorithm. The solution procedure is based on a spatially second order, total variation diminishing scheme and a temporally second order, variable-step, backward differentiation formula method. The hydrogen-oxygen-argon chemistry is modeled with a 9-species, 19-step mechanism. The accuracy of the solution method is first demonstrated by several benchmark calculations. Numerical simulations of expansion tube flowfields are then presented for two different geometries: an axisymmetric projectile and a ram accelerator configuration. The development of the shock-induced combustion process is followed. The temporal variations of the calculated thrust and drag forces on the ram accelerator projectile are also presented. In the axisymmetric projectile case, which was designed to ensure combustion only in the boundary layer, the radial extent of the flame front during the initial transient phase was surprisingly large. In the ram accelerator configuration the flame propagated upstream along both the projectile and tube wall boundary layers, resulting in unstart. Received 25 September 1996 / Accepted 15 January 1997     

Aerodynamic force measurement using 3-component accelerometer force balance system in a hypersonic shock tunnel

A new three-component accelerometer force balance has been designed, calibrated and tested in hypersonic shock tunnel (HST2) of Indian Institute of Science. The newly designed balance is able to measure aerodynamic forces (within test time of one millisecond) on test models at angles of attack from 0 to 12°. Two models, a blunt cone with after body and a blunt cone with after body and frustum are used to establish the accuracy of the force balance. The tests were conducted for the above two configurations with a constant Mach number of 8 and total enthalpy of 2.0 MJ/kg. The effectiveness of the balance is demonstrated by comparing the forces and moments of measured data with AGARD models. The flow fields around the test model are simulated using a 3D axisymmetric Navier–Stokes solver and the simulated results were compared with the measured values. Measured and computed force data are matched within ±10% for two different models tested here. The accuracy of the force balance is also estimated with the Newtonian theory and the values are approximately ±10% for the axial component and ±8% for the normal and pitching moment components.      

Experimental investigations on the effect of energy deposition in hypersonic blunt body flow field

We describe here an experimental study on the effect of energy deposition in the flow field of a 120° blunt cone, carried out in a hypersonic shock tunnel. The energy deposition is realised using an electric arc discharge generated between two electrodes placed in the free stream, and various parameters influencing the effectiveness of this technique is studied. The experimental observations suggest that the location of energy deposition has a vital role in dictating the flow structure, with no noticeable effects being produced on the flow field when the discharge was located close to the body (0.416 times body diameter). In addition, the nature of the test gas and the free stream density are also identified as important parameters. In these experiments, a maximum drag reduction of ~50% and ~84% reduction in stagnation point heating rate has been observed as a result of energy addition. The experimental evidence also indicates that the relaxation of the internal degrees of freedom plays a major role in the alteration of the hypersonic blunt body flow structure and that under the specific conditions encountered in our experiments, the energy deposition is not strong enough to create a shock on its own, but the heated region behind the energy source interacts with the blunt body shock resulting in the flow field alteration.      

A visual study on complex flow structures and flow breakdown in a boundary layer transition

A visualization study is conducted on the excited laminar-turbulent transition within a flat plate boundary layer flow in a water tunnel. The hydrogen bubble technique is employed to investigate the complex characteristics of the flow structure and its breakdown in the later stages of the transition. A new flow structure is observed, which involves two secondary hairpin vortices outboard of both legs of a primary hairpin vortex. This complex structure is argued to be a precursor of a turbulent spot in this K-type transition. Also reported in the paper is the evolution of the flow structure and its subsequent breakdown, manifested by the emergence of dark spots, low-speed fluid bumps, and near-wall hairpin vortex groups. The results indicate that the near-wall flow breakdown is the result of instability of a local three-dimensional high-shear layer between the low-speed fluid bump and the outer higher-speed region.     

Advances in detonation driving techniques for a shock tube/tunnel

Early works on the detonation driven shock tube are reviewed briefly. High initial pressure detonable mixture can be used in backward-detonation driver when the buffer tube is attached to the end of the driver for eliminating the excessive reflected peak pressure. Experimental data showed that an improvement on attenuation of the incident shock wave generated by the forward driver can be obtained, provided the diameter of the driver is larger than that of the driven section and an abrupt reduction of cross-section area is placed just beyond the diaphragm. Also, it is clearly verified by a numerical analysis. An additional backward-detonation driver is proposed to attach to the primary detonation driver and on condition that the ratios of initial pressure in the additional driver to that in the primary driver exceed the threshold value, the Taylor wave behind detonation wave in the primary detonation driver can be eliminated completely.     

Simulation of a complete reflected shock tunnel showing a vortex mechanism for flow contamination

Simulations of a complete reflected shock tunnel facility have been performed with the aim of providing a better understanding of the flow through these facilities. In particular, the analysis is focused on the premature contamination of the test flow with the driver gas. The axisymmetric simulations model the full geometry of the shock tunnel and incorporate an iris-based model of the primary diaphragm rupture mechanics, an ideal secondary diaphragm and account for turbulence in the shock tube boundary layer with the Baldwin-Lomax eddy viscosity model. Two operating conditions were examined: one resulting in an over-tailored mode of operation and the other resulting in approximately tailored operation. The accuracy of the simulations is assessed through comparison with experimental measurements of static pressure, pitot pressure and stagnation temperature. It is shown that the widely-accepted driver gas contamination mechanism in which driver gas ‘jets’ along the walls through action of the bifurcated foot of the reflected shock, does not directly transport the driver gas to the nozzle at these conditions. Instead, driver gas laden vortices are generated by the bifurcated reflected shock. These vortices prevent jetting of the driver gas along the walls and convect driver gas away from the shock tube wall and downstream into the nozzle. Additional vorticity generated by the interaction of the reflected shock and the contact surface enhances the process in the over-tailored case. However, the basic mechanism appears to operate in a similar way for both the over-tailored and the approximately tailored conditions.Communicated by R. R. Boyce