Shock wave propagation in neutral and ionized gases

Journal Article · Mon Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 2008 · Journal of Applied Physics

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.2973683· OSTI ID:21182591

Podder, N K; Wilson, IV, R B ^[1]; Bletzinger, P ^[2]

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1. Department of Math and Physics, Troy University, Troy, Alabama 36082 (United States)
2. Innovative Scientific Solutions, Inc., Dayton, Ohio 45440 (United States)

Preliminary measurements on a recently built shock tube are presented. Planar shock waves are excited by the spark discharge of a capacitor, and launched into the neutral argon or nitrogen gas as well as its ionized glow discharge in the pressure region 1-17 Torr. For the shock wave propagation in the neutral argon at fixed capacitor charging voltage, the shock wave velocity is found to increase nonlinearly at the lower pressures, reach a maximum at an intermediate pressure, and then decrease almost linearly at the higher pressures, whereas the shock wave strength continues to increase at a nonlinear rate over the entire range of pressure. However, at fixed gas pressure the shock wave velocity increases almost monotonically as the capacitor charging voltage is increased. For the shock wave propagation in the ionized argon glow, the shock wave is found to be most influenced by the glow discharge plasma current. As the plasma current is increased, both the shock wave propagation velocity and the dispersion width are observed to increase nonlinearly.

• OSTI ID: 21182591
• Journal Information: Journal of Applied Physics, Journal Name: Journal of Applied Physics Journal Issue: 5 Vol. 104; ISSN JAPIAU; ISSN 0021-8979
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ARGON
CAPACITORS
ELECTRIC CURRENTS
ELECTRIC POTENTIAL
GLOW DISCHARGES
IONIZED GASES
NITROGEN
NONLINEAR PROBLEMS
PLASMA
SHOCK TUBES
SHOCK WAVES