Shock Wave Dynamics Explored: A Parametric Analysis of the 2-D Case*

Unique to this research is a novel exploding wire system that can create shock waves that are consistent with those exhibiting blast type flow phenomena. In this talk, the relationship of shock waves -- with a decaying pressure zone behind the shock front -- is investigated in 2D experimentally. Results are obtained using a novel exploding wire system coupled with a Shimadzu HPV-X2 high-speed camera, and a schlieren setup. The exploding wire setup was designed to pass a controlled amount of current (10kV--40kV) through a thin wire (0.05mm) to create a shock wave with tunable properties. This research focuses primarily upon the investigation of the regular to irregular transition regime. Qualitative analysis depicts shock wave evolution and Mach stem formation. Results were later post-processed utilizing an in-house code to further determine quantitative phenomena, including the temporal evolution of radius vs time and Mach number vs time. Additionally, simultaneously converging shock-shock interactions are also investigated, and resulting relationships analyzed. Results obtained aim to better elucidate the characteristic changes of shock wave dynamics when the flow is impeded either through physical boundaries, or via other shock waves.