Shock wave-induced flow features in concave profiles
Date
2013-02-13
Authors
MacLucas, David Arthur
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Abstract
This work provides an in-depth study into the development of a complex two-dimensional
flow field resulting from the interaction of a plane shock wave in air with concave profiles.
Of particular interest are the development of reflection patterns of the incident shock wave at
the profile wall and the process of gas dynamic focus. These principal flow features are
examined across a wide range of different reflector shapes using both experimental and CFD
approaches. The size of the various reflector shapes were specified by varying their depth-toaperture
where models ranged from 0.2 to 1. Model apertures for numerical test pieces were
fixed at 160 mm; experimental test pieces ranged from 140 A 160mm. The strength of the
incident plane shock wave was limited to 1.2 1.45 S M .
The principal flow features were established and examined experimentally using qualitative
and quantitative flow visualization techniques supplemented with numerical results. Timeresolved
high-speed imaging was used to capture the interaction providing the unique ability
to track the various transient flow features over the course of the interaction. The variation of
the principal flow features were examined by testing a large group of profiles using an
experimentally-validated Euler-based CFD code.
The depth-to-aperture ratio of the profile and the incident shock strength were shown to be
the two primary factors that influenced the maximum pressure amplification at focus and the
focus mechanism. Increases in the depth-to-aperture ratio increased the maximum pressure
amplification observed at focus. This occurred due to a combination of factors including: the
strengthening of the individual shock waves involved in focus; the duration of focus and the
strengthening of a compressive flow field that develops adjacent to the shock system during
focus. The compressive flow field adjacent to the shock system at focus was shown to be of
great importance to the focus process. Parabolic or weighted catenaries with depth-toaperture
ratios between 0.7 and 0.75 developed a new focus mechanism consisting of
multiple foci. This new focus mechanism was shown to produce significant peak pressure
amplifications. Recommendations for further study include high resolution experimental
and/or CFD studies of gas dynamic focus in deep profiles.