Development of the Calorimeter Heat Transfer Gauge for Use in Shock Tubes

A heat transfer gauge suitable for measuring extremely high heat transfer rates under the quasi-transient conditions occurring in shock tubes has been developed. The instrument is based on a calorimetric principle and is made possible by the short steady state times inherent in shock tubes. The technique developed extends, verifies, and supplements the shock tube heat transfer measurements made by thin film resistance thermometers. The operating principles and experimental experiences with calorimeter heat transfer gauges are reported in some detail. Much heat transfer data obtained with calorimeter gauges has been collected and published. Experimental measurements of laminar and turbulent heat transfer rates at velocities up to satellite speeds, approximately 26 000 ft/sec, have been reported. Heat transfer rates as high as 40 kw/cm2 have been encountered in these experiments.