Spring 2012
Laboratory #8: Transient Measurements in a Shock Tube
A data report is required for this laboratory. Please carefully follow the instructions for data report formats.
Additional Instructions
For at least one of your runs, set the data
acquisition parameters so as to take data for at least 10 times longer than the
time required for the reflected shock to reach the last pressure transducer.
Questions
Your report must include answers to the following questions in the appropriate section:
1. Suppose
we wanted to use our shock tube as a sort of wind tunnel to test a small
aerodynamic model as it experienced the freestream
flow conditions that occur behind the initial incident shock wave in our
shock tube. Assume that the model would be located 30 cm from the endwall of the driven section of the shock tube. Based on
your measurements for a run with a nominal driver pressure of 23 psig and a
nominal driven pressure of -17 in Hg., what freestream Mach number would the model experience and how
long would roughly constant flow conditions exist (this would tell you the
maximum test time)?
2. Could we
use a thermocouple to measure the static temperature of the gas at measurement
station C after the passage of the initial reflected shock?
3. What can
we do to maximize the strength of the shock wave in our shock tube?