Accession Number:

AD1028247

Title:

Hypervelocity Expansion Facility for Fundamental High-Enthalpy Research

Descriptive Note:

Technical Report,01 Jun 2015,30 Nov 2016

Corporate Author:

Texas A and M University College Station United States

Personal Author(s):

• Bowersox,Rodney D.
• White,Edward B.
• North,Simon W.
• Marcotte,Evan K.
• Aguilar,Gabe J.
• Pages,Alex E.

Report Date:

2017-02-27

Pagination or Media Count:

89.0

Abstract:

The objective for this project is to provide a clean air venue for basic research in high enthalpy,high Reynolds number transitional and turbulent boundary layer flow, which aligns with Navy interests in hypersonic vehicle systems. To meet this goal, we developed and installed a relatively large-scale hypervelocity expansion tunnel HXT into the National Aerothermochemistry and Hypersonics Laboratory NAL at Texas A and M University. This venue leverages previous DoD investments in high-energy pulsed laser diagnostics for instantaneous planar velocimetry and thermometry to perform scientific studies of high temperature hypersonic boundary layers. The combination of the expansion tunnel facility with our signature laser diagnostics will provide a capability for fundamental and applied studies of hypervelocity high enthalpy flows. In this document, we report on the progress over the 18-month period of performance. The project progressed as planned, where the expansion tube was designed flow path and mechanical, constructed, installed, instrumented for shock speed, and a preliminary shake-down test was performed.

Descriptors:

• boundary layer
• computational fluid dynamics
• hypervelocity flow
• Reynolds number
• enthalpy
• hypersonics
• shock tunnels

Subject Categories:

• Fluid Mechanics
• Test Facilities, Equipment and Methods

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE