Force Calibration of a Hemispherical Model Using Reddy Shock Tube

Abstract

Shock tube study is done to understand the characteristic behavior of various types of shock wave, pressure and temperature variations observed at hypersonic speed. To study these characteristics in an inexpensive and simplified way, an instrument called Reddy Shock tube was designed, also known as Table-Top shock tube. Shock waves are generated purely by the application of manual force. In the test section, a flow of Mach upto 6.5 is generated. The attempt here was made to calculate force acting on a hemispherical model at hypersonic flow regime. It is an impulse facility, where the flow operates only for a fractional second. The pressure transducers were used to characterize the shock wave properties. Similarly, an accelerometer was connected to the model, which determined the acceleration value required to find the axial force.