Design of Compressed Air-drivenVariable-sectional Shock Tube for Simulating Air Explosion Shock Wave

doi:10.12382/bgxb.2025.0442

Abstract

Abstract:

In order to develop a compressed air-driven variable-sectional shock tube test device for simulating the air explosion shock wave, the classical 1D Sod shock tube problem, compressed air-driven equi-diametric and variable-sectional shock tube tests were firstly numerically simulated based on Ansys Fluent software, respectively. The applicability and reliability of material model parameters, boundary conditions, and numerical simulation method were validated through the comparisons of simulation results with analytical solutions and test data. Secondly, the evolution processes of the pressure pulse in the equi-diametric and variable-sectional shock tubes were analyzed, respectively. It was found that the location where the rarefaction wave catches up with the shock wave is the formation location of the air explosion shock wave; the variable-sectional shock tubes with different expanded angles could generate air explosion shock waves with exponential decay, and the expanded angle of the low-pressure section has little effect on the waveform of shock wave. Further analysis was carried out to analyze the influence of the geometrical dimensions of the shock tube and initial pressure in the high-pressure section on the formation location of the air explosion shock wave and corresponding peak reflected overpressure. It was shown that the formation location of the air explosion shock wave and the above parameters have a nonlinear relationship. The peak reflected overpressure increases with the diameter and initial pressure of the high-pressure section increasing, as well as with the length of the high-pressure section and expanded angle of the low-pressure section decreasing. Finally, based on the simulation results and dimensional analysis, predicted formulas for the formation location of the air explosion shock wave and corresponding peak reflected overpressure were established, respectively. The design process of the compressed air-driven variable-sectional shock tube was given. The test loading capabilities of three typical variable-sectional shock tubes were determined by comparing them with the classical Kingery-Bulmash air explosion shock wave calculation formulas.

Key words: shock wave, compressed air, variable-sectional shock tube, shock wave, rarefaction wave

WU Hao, XU Peng, CHEN De. Design of Compressed Air-drivenVariable-sectional Shock Tube for Simulating Air Explosion Shock Wave[J]. Acta Armamentarii, 2025, 46(10): 250442-.

Figures/Tables 27

Fig.1 Variable-sectional shock tubes at different universities

Fig.2 1D Sod shock tube

Fig.3 Comparisons of simulation results with analytical solutions

Fig.4 Comparisons of simulation results with analytical solutions

Fig.5 Equi-diametric shock tube

Fig.6 Comparisons of numerical simulation results and test data

Fig.7 Variable-sectional shock tube

Fig.8 Comparisons of numerical simulation results and test data

Fig.9 Variable-sectional shock tube and numerical simulation model

Fig.10 Comparisons of numerical simulation results and test data

Fig.11 Axisymmetric numerical simulation model of variable-sectional shock tube

Fig.12 Instantaneous pressure distribution inside the equi-diametric shock tube and corresponding incident overpressure-time histories

Fig.13 Pressure propagation and distribution inside the variable-sectional shock tube

Fig.14 Instantaneous pressure distribution inside the variable-sectional shock tube with different expanded angle and corresponding reflected overpressure-time histories

Fig.15 Pressure and vorticity contours of the variable-sectional shock tube

Fig.16 Numerical simulation model of variable-sectional shock tube

Fig.17 Reflected overpressure-time histories at the formation location of air explosion shock wave

Fig.18 Air explosion shock wave formation locations and corresponding peak reflected overpressures

Fig.19 Reflected overpressure-time histories at the formation location of air explosion shock wave

Fig.20 Air explosion shock wave formation locations and corresponding peak reflected overpressures

Fig.21 Reflected overpressure-time histories at the formation location of air explosion shock wave

Fig.22 Air explosion shock wave formation locations and corresponding peak reflected overpressures

Fig.23 Comparisons of empirical formula predictions with simulation results

Table 1 Variable-sectional shock tube design parameters

激波管	D/m	θ/(°)	S/m	L/m	D_end/m	p₄/MPa
A	0.5	9	8.5	0.55	3	2
B	0.5	11	7	0.5	3	5
C	0.5	7	7	0.51	2	5

Table 2 Comparison of numerical simulation analysis results and Eq. (10) predictions

激波管	式(10)预测Δp_r/kPa	数值仿真Δp_r/kPa	相对误差/%
A	107.8	103.4	4.2
B	202.5	200.8	0.84
C	329.6	312.2	5.6

Fig.24 Comparisons of reflected overpressure-time histories of shock tubes and air explosion

Table 3 Mapping relationship of reflected overpressure parameters of shock tubes and air explosion shock waves

激波管类型	激波管冲击波				空爆冲击波
激波管类型	p₄/MPa	Δp_r/kPa	Δt₊/ms	b	爆炸当量/kg	爆炸距离/m	Δp'_r^[20]/kPa	T₊^[20]/ms	b'^[22]
	0.5	36.4	6.2	0.55	4	12	34.8	6.1	0.47
A	1	63.2	7.6	0.93	12	12	64.1	7.8	0.73
	1.5	84.5	9.6	1.47	30	14	85.9	10.0	0.87
	2	103.4	10.1	1.43	40	14	104.8	10.6	0.98
	1	63.9	6.8	0.92	9	11	63.1	7.1	0.72
	2	105.9	9.0	1.52	25	12	104.2	9.0	0.97
B	3	141.0	9.9	1.58	40	12	147.7	9.9	1.17
	4	172.3	10.4	1.55	50	12	176.1	10.3	1.28
	5	200.8	11.0	1.6	75	13	201.5	11.5	1.37
	1	100.3	7.7	1.59	14	10	101.8	7.5	0.96
	2	167.3	9.6	1.87	35	11	163.2	9.3	1.23
C	3	222.4	11.9	2.36	85	13	223.6	11.8	1.44
	4	270.3	14.9	3.02	200	16	272.7	14.9	1.58
	5	312.2	16.8	2.57	280	17	312.2	16.0	1.68

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