Detached Shock Waves around Cylinders Flying at Mach Number Ranging from 1 to 2

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Mizukaki, T.

Affiliations: The First Research Center, Technical Research and Development Institute, Japan Defense Agency, Naka-Meguro, Meguro, Tokyo, 153-8630, Japan. (Current affiliation: Dept. of Aeronautics and Astronautics, School of Engineering, Tokai University, 1117, Kitakaname, Hiratsuka, Kanagawa, 259-1292 Japan.) E-mail: mizukaki@keyaki.cc.u-tokai.ac.jp

Abstract: Using a ballistic range with a small single-stage powder gun, characteristics of detached shock waves around cylindrical projectiles were investigated. The detaches shock waves were analyzed quantitatively by visualization method. The projectiles were made of steel, with a diameter of 5.56 mm and with a mass of 1.77 g. The projectiles were ejected into the test section of the ballistic range at supersonic speeds. Direction-indicating color schlieren method (DInCS) was used to visualize the flow field. The stand-off distance of the detached shock waves and the shape were obtained as the function of Mach number. The functions were compared with the results obtained by wind tunnel experiments. Analyzed images provided the quantitative information on shock shapes. The results were as follows: (1) the stand-off distances of the detached shock waves have been shown as exponential functions of Mach number; (2) the shapes of the shock waves have been found as quadratic functions of Mach number. The differences in the functions between this paper and a wind tunnel test were shown.

Keywords: Flow visualization, High-speed projectiles, Detached shock waves

Journal: Journal of Visualization, vol. 11, no. 2, pp. 133-141, 2008