1. Large-scale free-piston-driven multi-mode shock expansion tunnel.
- Author
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Stennett, Samuel, Gildfind, David, Andrianatos, Andreas, Morgan, Richard, Jacobs, Peter, James, Christopher, Toniato, Pierpaolo, Chan, Wilson, and Silvester, Todd
- Subjects
SHOCK tubes ,DYNAMIC pressure - Abstract
X3/R is a new large-scale free-piston-driven dual-mode shock expansion tube, developed and operated collaboratively by the University of Queensland (UQ) and Australia's Defence Science and Technology Group (DSTG). The facility can be converted between a long-duration reflected shock tunnel (RST), a super-orbital expansion tube (X-mode), and a non-reflected shock tube (NRST). In RST mode, the facility is currently capable of producing 600 mm diameter Mach 7 test flows at 25–50 kPa dynamic pressure for more than 10 ms. In expansion tube mode, the facility can reach enthalpies up to 80 MJ/kg for test times on the order of 500–1000 μ s. This paper presents the new facility, summarizes its current operational capabilities, and discusses key the technical challenges overcome during its development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2024
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