Free-piston driver optimisation for simulation of high Mach number scramjet flow conditions

The University of Queensland (UQ) is currently developing high Mach number, high total pressure scramjet flow conditions in its X2 and X3 expansion tube facilities. These conditions involve shock-processing a high-density air test gas followed by its unsteady expansion into a low-pressure accelerati...

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Main Authors: Gildfind, D, Morgan, R, McGilvray, M, Jacobs, P, Stalker, R, Eichmann, T
Format: Journal article
Language:English
Published: 2011
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author Gildfind, D
Morgan, R
McGilvray, M
Jacobs, P
Stalker, R
Eichmann, T
author_facet Gildfind, D
Morgan, R
McGilvray, M
Jacobs, P
Stalker, R
Eichmann, T
author_sort Gildfind, D
collection OXFORD
description The University of Queensland (UQ) is currently developing high Mach number, high total pressure scramjet flow conditions in its X2 and X3 expansion tube facilities. These conditions involve shock-processing a high-density air test gas followed by its unsteady expansion into a low-pressure acceleration tube. This relatively slow shock-processing requires the driver to supply high pressure gas for a significantly greater duration than normally required for superorbital flow conditions. One technique to extend the duration is to operate a tuned free-piston driver. For X2, this involves the use of a very light piston at high speeds so that, following diaphragm rupture, the piston displacement substitutes for vented driver gas, thus maintaining driver pressure much longer. However, this presents challenges in terms of higher piston loading and also safely stopping the piston. This article discusses the tuned driver concept, the design of a very lightweight but highly stressed piston, and details the successful development of a new set of tuned free-piston driver conditions for X2. © 2011 Springer-Verlag.
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spelling oxford-uuid:6c88d636-deb1-44fb-a7ef-76628e7315c12022-03-26T19:11:26ZFree-piston driver optimisation for simulation of high Mach number scramjet flow conditionsJournal articlehttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_dcae04bcuuid:6c88d636-deb1-44fb-a7ef-76628e7315c1EnglishSymplectic Elements at Oxford2011Gildfind, DMorgan, RMcGilvray, MJacobs, PStalker, REichmann, TThe University of Queensland (UQ) is currently developing high Mach number, high total pressure scramjet flow conditions in its X2 and X3 expansion tube facilities. These conditions involve shock-processing a high-density air test gas followed by its unsteady expansion into a low-pressure acceleration tube. This relatively slow shock-processing requires the driver to supply high pressure gas for a significantly greater duration than normally required for superorbital flow conditions. One technique to extend the duration is to operate a tuned free-piston driver. For X2, this involves the use of a very light piston at high speeds so that, following diaphragm rupture, the piston displacement substitutes for vented driver gas, thus maintaining driver pressure much longer. However, this presents challenges in terms of higher piston loading and also safely stopping the piston. This article discusses the tuned driver concept, the design of a very lightweight but highly stressed piston, and details the successful development of a new set of tuned free-piston driver conditions for X2. © 2011 Springer-Verlag.
spellingShingle Gildfind, D
Morgan, R
McGilvray, M
Jacobs, P
Stalker, R
Eichmann, T
Free-piston driver optimisation for simulation of high Mach number scramjet flow conditions
title Free-piston driver optimisation for simulation of high Mach number scramjet flow conditions
title_full Free-piston driver optimisation for simulation of high Mach number scramjet flow conditions
title_fullStr Free-piston driver optimisation for simulation of high Mach number scramjet flow conditions
title_full_unstemmed Free-piston driver optimisation for simulation of high Mach number scramjet flow conditions
title_short Free-piston driver optimisation for simulation of high Mach number scramjet flow conditions
title_sort free piston driver optimisation for simulation of high mach number scramjet flow conditions
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