Flow visualization of a shock wave by simple refraction of a background grid
Abstract
Experiments with high-molecular-weight fluids yield large absolute density changes across gas-phase shock waves, producing correspondingly large changes in the index of refraction (n). In the present experiments, the change in n across the shock is of order 0.01. Simple photography of the shock against a ruled background grid shows a visible shock front by refraction of the grid lines. Comparison of the photographic image with an image generated by optical ray tracing yields a measurement of the density behind the shock.
- Publication:
-
IN: Optical methods in dynamics of fluids and solids; Proceedings of the International Symposium
- Pub Date:
- 1985
- Bibcode:
- 1985omdf.proc..225T
- Keywords:
-
- Flow Visualization;
- Refracted Waves;
- Shock Wave Propagation;
- Density Distribution;
- Grids;
- Photographic Recording;
- Ray Tracing;
- Shock Fronts;
- Instrumentation and Photography