Fluid disintegration studies in a specialized shock tube

Institut für Thermodynamik der Luft- und Raumfahrt (ITLR) Universität Stuttgart Pfaffenwaldring 31, Stuttgart 70569, Germany

Abstract

This paper describes a double-diaphragm shock tube, designed for the experimental investigation of fundamental processes related to fluid disintegration and mixing at elevated pressures and temperatures, representative for realistic engine conditions. Special features of the shock tube include a variable-area driver section to compensate for shock attenuation and boundary layer effects. In discussing the shock tube operational envelope, particular emphasis is given to the requirements to be fulfilled to attain reproducible and accurate experimental data and to capture the most relevant features of subcritical and supercritical mixing behavior. A review of potential thermodynamic transitions for near-critical jet disintegration phenomena is presented and the main features of each disintegration mode are discussed on the basis of the shock tube experiments.