Application of the Cylinder-type Driver Tube Staging Valve for Test Time Extension of Shock Tube

Abstract

A cylinder-type driver tube staging valve is developed for the test time extension of a reflected-shock tube by delaying the expansion waves’ arrival at the test flow. By applying the staging valve, a low-acoustic-speed gas can be filled near the driver tube end wall without significant mixing with the driver gas. As a result, the expansion waves decelerate while passing through the low-acoustic-speed gas, and the test time could be further extended by delaying the expansion waves’ arrival at the test flow. The test time extension results are evaluated based on the history of pressure measurements at the driven tube end wall under two test flow conditions. The experimental details regarding the test time and the pressure over the test time are described. The experimental results and discussions indicate that the shock tube’s test time can be extended without significant flow disturbance.