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A Study of Free-Piston Double-Diaphragm Drivers for Expansion TubesIn recent years the free-piston double-diaphragm driver has been used to increase the performance of the XI pilot expansion tube to super-orbital test conditions. However, the actual performance of the double-diaphragm driver was found to be considerably less than ideal. An experimental study of the double-diaphragm driver was carried out on the XI facility over a range of conditions with the objective of determining the effect of. heat losses; and the non-ideal rupture of the 'light' secondary diaphragm on the driver performance. The disparity between the theoretical and measured performance envelope are highlighted. A viscous limit for the experiments vas established. Heat transfer behind the primary shock is shown to be the mechanism behind this limit Incident, reflected and transmitted shock trajectories for the secondary diaphragm were experimentally determined and compared with computed trajectories from a one-dimensional diaphragm inertia model. It was found that the diaphragm did influence the unsteady expansion. A good agreement between experimental and computed shock trajectories was obtained using a diaphragm inertia model assuming that the diaphragm mass became negligible 3 microns after shock impact.
Document ID
19990070315
Acquisition Source
Langley Research Center
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Kendall, M. A.
(Queensland Univ. Saint Lucia, Australia)
Date Acquired
August 19, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 1997
Subject Category
Mechanical Engineering
Report/Patent Number
AIAA Paper 97-0985
Meeting Information
Meeting: Aerospace Sciences
Location: Reno, NV
Country: United States
Start Date: January 6, 1997
End Date: January 10, 1997
Sponsors: American Inst. of Aeronautics and Astronautics
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAG1-1846
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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