High speed flow characteristics in gun tunnel

• Main Authors: Ahmed, D.I (Author), Amir, A.-F (Author), Kasolang, S. (Author), Yusoff, M.Z (Author)
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 2012
• Subjects: Gun Tunnel; High speed flow; Peak pressure; Shock strength; Shock wave speed
• Online Access: View Fulltext in Publisher; View in Scopus

 Research in supersonic remains a concern in many applications and maybe conducted using ground-based experimental facilities, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) or actual flight tests using rocket powered flight vehicles. An experimental study was performed to establish investigative work on the transient flow behaviour in short duration high speed flow gun tunnel test facility available in Universiti Tenaga Nasional (UNITEN). Physical descriptions of the facility along with the principle of operation have been described. The pressure history of flow process was captured using a fast response pressure transducers at three stations located at the end of the facility. Experimental measurements of shock strength, peak pressure and shock wave speed change of Air-Air as a driver/driven gas were presented and compared with another set of experimental measurements using a gas combination of Helium-Air. In this study, deployment of two pressure transducers technique has made measurement of the shock wave speed easy. It was also observed that the existence of the piston has a very significant influence on the moving shock wave and peak pressure value obtained. The results provide a very good estimate of the parameters being investigated after diaphragm rupture and also offer better understanding of the parameters affecting the performance of the facility. © 2012 The Authors.