Propagation mechanism of dust detonations

This paper summarizes the studies on dust detonations at the Stosswellenlabor of RWTH Aachen since 1987. The onset and propagation mechanism of heterogeneous dust detonations are similar to those of marginal gas phase detonations. A self-sustained dust detonation has transverse wave structures that provide the coupling between shock and reaction. Large transition distances and transverse wave spacings require large sized tubes for the propagation of self-sustained dust detonations. The Hugoniot analysis of the Chapman-Jouguet detonation predicts equilibrium detonation states being in reasonable agreement with the self-sustained dust detonations observed. Shock matching calculations at the triple point adequately determine the wave structures of those stable dust detonations.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.