Optical analysis of a supersonic conical projectile interacting with an explosively-driven shock wave*

Schlieren imaging and optical analysis have previously been used to measure density fields around a supersonic projectile in flight. The same methods are applied here to study shock wave interactions between a supersonic projectile and an external blast wave. Quantitative schlieren and ultra-high-speed digital cameras are used to visualize and quantify the shock wave interaction evolution as a function of time. Quantitative schlieren and symmetry arguments allow the characterization of the density field throughout the flow. The baseline blast wave and projectile flowfields are characterized individually, then the interacting flow field is explored. Differences between the individual flows and the combined interaction are measured. The shock-shock interaction shows changes in the shape of the shock wave on the supersonic projectile and irregular reflections of the blast wave from the cone surface.