Bauwens, LucJohansen, Craig T.Alves, Marcel Martins2019-09-192019-09-192019-09-17Alves, M. M. (2019). Investigation and modeling of shock wave propagation in a shock tube with a partially opened diaphragm (Doctoral thesis, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada). Retrieved from https://prism.ucalgary.ca.http://hdl.handle.net/1880/111010Numerical simulations of high-pressure air, helium, and hydrogen discharging into a low-pressure air section through an orifice, representing a partially opened diaphragm in a shock tube, are performed using OpenFOAM. Synthetic schlieren images are used to visualize the development of shock waves, expansion waves, and mixing layers as the initial pressure ratio, area ratio, jet Reynolds number, and gas driver type are varied. Insight from the simulations are used to develop and assess theoretical shock strength models, based on discharge coefficients for orifice plates in compressible pipe flow and sonic nozzles. Model predictions are compared to an empirical model from the literature to assess performance. Limitations of the models are examined, and simple corrections are proposed to increase the range of applicability. The proposed shock strength models can be used to predict jet-ignition associated with an accidental hydrogen explosion.engUniversity of Calgary graduate students retain copyright ownership and moral rights for their thesis. You may use this material in any way that is permitted by the Copyright Act or through licensing that has been assigned to the document. For uses that are not allowable under copyright legislation or licensing, you are required to seek permission.shock wavedischarge coefficientorifice platesonic nozzleEngineeringEngineering--AerospaceEngineering--Mechanicaldoctoral thesis10.11575/PRISM/37075