Particle Image Velocimetry Study of the Shock Wave Emanating From Open-Ended Shock Tube

In this paper, flow associated with the shock wave discharged from an open end of a shock tube is studied experimentally. The investigations were carried out by the method of particle image velocimetry (PIV), and focused on the spatial characteristics of the transmitting shock wave, vortex ring, and the trailing jet. Mach numbers of the initial shock wave varied around 1.4 and 1.8. Initial phase of the flow (t < 1 ms) was studied. Results include observations on the propagation of different features of the flow, estimates of width of the shock front as detected by PIV, and brief analysis of the vortex ring structure.