| Summary: | A new mode of operation, Ludwieg mode with Isentropic Compression Heating (LICH), has been commissioned for the Oxford High Density Tunnel (HDT). LICH mode can extend the total temperature range of Ludwieg tunnels by including a piston stroke in the shot sequence, compressing the test gas and heating it above the level achievable by electrically pre-heating Ludwieg tubes alone. A numerical model for HDT has been developed for rapid assessment of conditions, aiding in the design of a lightweight piston. Initial testing has been carried out, producing 600 K Mach 7 flow and proving the capability of LICH mode in HDT. An assessment has been carried out of the overall performance of HDT operating in LICH mode at Mach 7. Condition maps have been generated using the numerical model, validated from experimental data. Finally, the freestream noise is compared to various other facilities which produce similar flow conditions.
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