Study of exothermic processes in shock ignited gases by the use of laser shear interferometry.

The paper reports on the measurements of maximum exothermic power pulses attainable from a given chemical system. Experimental tests involved the use of a shock tube technique whereby the exothermic process of combustion was controlled by reflected shock so that it occurred under virtually inviscid flow conditions, the data having been obtained at a resolution commensurate with the actual rate of chemical reaction. Experimental observations were made by means of a novel method of laser shear interferometry. Chemical systems treated in this manner comprised of mixtures of stoichiometric hydrogen-oxygen with 80 and 90% argon, while the measurements covered the full permissible range of initial thermodynamic conditions.