Experimental determination of self-similarity constant for converging cylindrical shocks

Guderley’s self-similarity solution r = r0(1 – t/t0)α for strong converging cylindrical shocks is investigated experimentally for three different gases with adiabatic exponents γ = 1.13; 1.40; and 1.66 and various values of the initial Mach number. Corresponding values of the similarity exponent α which determines the strength of shock convergence are obtained for each gas thus giving the variation of α with γ. Schlieren imaging with multiple exposure technique is used to track the propagation of a single shock front during convergence. The present experimental results are compared with previous experimental, numerical, and theoretical investigations.