Arc-Driven Shock Tube
Summer, '11
My Work at CePaST
Jason Buchanan
October 10, 2012
What is a Shock Tube?


Instrument used to replicate and direct blast
waves.
Arc-Driven ST v. Compression ST
History and Uses of Shock Tubes
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1899 Pierre Vieille
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1940's Compression Shock Tube
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1966 Blast/Electric Shock Tube
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Scientific, biomedical & military applications
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Analyzing flow characteristics, blast resistances,
wave fronts, plasma, aerodynamic theory
Can be used like a wind tunnel
Shape of the plasma
Characteristics
ADST



High-capacitance
electric driver
Speeds up to Mach
130
Turbulent flow
CST



Pressure driver with
diaphragm
Speeds up to Mach
30
Laminar flow
So how do we get there?
Vacuum systems


Mean free path
Turbomolecular +
Roughing Pumps

Ion gauge

Baking
Why?

No contamination

Need airtight system
What holds us back?
Virtual leaks

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Screws
O-rings (rubber,
copper)
Pipe corners
Actual leaks

Loose parts

Cracks
Outgassing
My Lab Coworkers

Kyron – Professor

Brandon – Undergraduate Supervisor

Charlemagne – Laser Specialist

Jason – Big Bang Lasers

Sydney – Glow Discharge Tube

Me – Arc-Driven Shock Tube
Sources
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Addams, Gomez.” in which our hero accomplishes very small but significant progress in a project
designed to create very small but significant pressures.” Megajoules & Gigawatts 2010
Anderson, J.D., Modern Compressible Flow , McGraw Hill Inc., New York, 1984.
Baals, Donald. Wind Tunnels of Nasa. AMES Research Center 2004
http://www.hq.nasa.gov/pao/History/SP-440/ch6-15.htm
Slater, John W. “Shock Tubes” NPARC Alliance Validation Archive. April 2012.
http://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/wind/valid/stube/stube.html

Varian, Inc History. Paolo Alto, California, 94304. Created 1999
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Wikipeeds, The. <en.wikipedia.org/wiki/[Shock Tube, Ultra High Vacuum Systems]>
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Williams, Kyron. Assistant Professor, Department of Physics, FAMU. Center for Plasma Science &
Technology
Williams, Sydney. Photographs at CePaST 2011
Wilson, J, Schofield,D, and Regan, J. “Plasma Flow in an Electromagnetic Shock Tube and in a
Compression Shock Tube.” Current Papers, Ministry of Aviation: Aeronautical Research Council.
London: Her Majesty's Stationery Office. 1966