Density and Pressure Fluctuations in a Turbulent Flow of Air and Argon and Their Interaction with a Shock Wave

Abstract

Turbulent fluctuations of density and pressure in air and argon in a shock tube have been investigated, as well as their interaction with a shock wave reflected from a perforated plate at the end of the shock tube. The Mach number of the incident shock was 1.9–3.9, while that of the reflected shock was 1.4–2.4. The turbulent length scale behind the incident shock was measured. That behind the reflected shock was a few times less than that behind the incident shock. It was established that overpressure occurs in the turbulent flow behind the reflected shock compared with the laminar flow, all other things being equal. The value of the overpressure is 12% in argon and 9% in air.