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Blast-induced mild traumatic brain injury (BImTBI) is one of the most common causes of traumatic brain injuries. BImTBI mechanisms are not well identified, as most previous blast-related studies were focused on the visible and fatal injuries. BImTBI is a hidden lesion and long-term escalation of related complications is considered a serious health care challenging due to lack of accurate data required for early diagnosis and intervention. The experimental studies presented in this thesis were performed to investigate aspects of blast shock wave mechanisms that might lead to mild traumatic brain injury. A compressed air-driven shock tube was designed and validated using finite element analysis (FEA) and experimental investigation. Two metal diaphragm types (steel and brass) with three thicknesses (0.127, 0.76, and 0.025mm) were utilized in the shock tube calibration experiment, as a new approach to generate shock wave. The consistency of generated shock waves was confirmed using a statistical assessment of the results by evaluating the shock waves parameters. The analysis results showed that the 0.127mm steel diaphragm induces a reliable shock waveform in the range of BImTB investigations. Evaluation of the shock wave impacts on the brain was examined using two sets of experiments. The first set was conducted using a gel brain model while the second set was performed using a physical head occupied with a gel brain model and supported by a neck model. The gel brain model in both the experimental studies was generated using silicone gel (Sylgard-527). The effects of tested models locations and orientations with respect to the shock tube exit were investigated by measuring the generated pressure wave within the brain model and acceleration. The results revealed that the pressure waveform and acceleration outcomes were greatly affected by the tested model orientations and locations in relation to the path of shock wave propagation. / Thesis / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Underwater explosions (UNDEX) and a ship's vulnerability to them are problems of interest in early-stage ship design. A series of events occur sequentially in an UNDEX scenario in both the fluid and structural domains and these events happen over a wide range of time and spatial scales. Because of the complexity of the physics involved, it is a common practice to separate the description of UNDEX into early-time and late-time, and far-field and near-field. The research described in this dissertation is focused on the simulation of near-field and early-time UNDEX. It assembles a hybrid framework of algorithms to provide results while maintaining computational efficiency. These algorithms include Runge-Kutta, Discontinuous Galerkin, Level Set, Direct Ghost Fluid and Embedded Boundary methods. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) solvers are developed using this framework of algorithms to demonstrate the computational methods and their ability to effectively and efficiently solve UNDEX problems. Contributions, made in the process of satisfying the objective of this research include: the derivation of eigenvectors of flux Jacobians and their application to the implementation of the slope limiter in the fluid discretization; the three-dimensional extension of Direct Ghost Fluid Method and its application to the multi-fluid treatment in UNDEX flows; the enforcement of an improved non-reflecting boundary condition and its application to UNDEX simulations; and an improvement to the projection-based embedded boundary method and its application to fluid-structure interaction simulations of UNDEX problems. / Doctor of Philosophy / Underwater explosions (UNDEX) and a ship's vulnerability to them are problems of interest in early-stage ship design. A series of events occur sequentially in an UNDEX scenario in both the fluid and structural domains and these events happen over a wide range of time and spatial scales. Because of the complexity of the physics involved, it is a common practice to separate the description of UNDEX into early-time and late-time, and far-field and near-field. The research described in this dissertation is focused on the simulation of near-field and early-time UNDEX. It assembles a hybrid framework of algorithms to provide results while maintaining computational efficiency. These algorithms include Runge-Kutta, Discontinuous Galerkin, Level Set, Direct Ghost Fluid and Embedded Boundary methods. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) solvers are developed using this framework of algorithms to demonstrate these computational methods and their ability to effectively and efficiently solve UNDEX problems.

In the Thesis, two important theoretical problems arising in the theory of one-dimensional defocusing nonlinear Schrödinger (NLS) flows are investigated analytically and numerically: (i) the resonant generation of dispersive shock waves (DSWs) in one-dimensional NLS flow past a broad repulsive penetrable barrier; and (ii) the interaction of counter-propagating DSW and a simple rarefaction wave (RW), which is referred to as the DSW refraction problem. The first problem is motivated by the recent experimental observations of dark soliton radiation in a cigar-shaped BEC by sweeping through it a localised repulsive potential; the second problem represents a dispersive-hydrodynamic counterpart of the classical gas-dynamics problem of the shock wave refraction on a RW, and, apart from its theoretical significance could also find applications in superfluid dynamics. Both problems also naturally arise in nonlinear optics, where the NLS equation is a standard mathematical model and the `superfluid dynamics of light' can be used for an all-optical modelling of BEC flows. The main results of the Thesis are as follows: (i) In the problem of the transcritical flow of a BEC through a wide repulsive penetrable barrier an asymptotic analytical description of the arising wave pattern is developed using the combination of the localised ``hydraulic'' solution of the 1D Gross-Pitaevskii (GP) equation with repulsion (the defocusing NLS equation with an added external potential) and the appropriate exact solutions of the Whitham-NLS modulation equations describing the resolution of the upstream and downstream discontinuities through DSWs. We show that the downstream DSW effectively represents the train of dark solitons, which can be associated with the excitations observed experimentally by Engels and Atherton (2008). (ii) The refraction of a DSW due to its head-on collision with the centred RW is considered in the frameworks of two one-dimensional defocusing NLS models: the standard cubic NLS equation and the NLS equation with saturable nonlinearity, the latter being a standard model for the light propagation through photorefractive optical crystals. For the cubic nonlinearity case we present a full asymptotic description of the DSW refraction by constructing appropriate exact solutions of the Whitham modulation equations in Riemann invariants. For the NLS equation with saturable nonlinearity, whose modulation system does not possess Riemann invariants, we take advantage of the recently developed method for the DSW description in non-integrable dispersive systems to obtain key parameters of the DSW refraction. In both problems, we undertake a detailed analysis of the flow structure for different parametric regimes and calculate physical quantities characterising the output flows in terms of relevant input parameters. Our modulation theory analytical results are supported by direct numerical simulations of the corresponding full dispersive initial value problems (IVP).

Diplomová práce Hodnocení krátkodobého efektu aplikace rázové vlny na MTrP Abstract This thesis concerns the application of radial extracorporeal shockwave therapy into muscular trigger points. It's location is derived from the descending part of trapezius muscle on the side of the dominant upper extremity. The performance analysis is based on using partially double-blind placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial. The effects of the therapy were investigated in 28 subjects divided into experimental and control groups and objectively manifested by measuring the pressure pain threshold. Furthermore, the measuring of the active range of motion of the cervical spine, and the measuring of the maximal voluntary wrist and third finger flexion (measured before and after the therapy). After the therapy, the pressure pain threshold value of the trigger point located in trapezius muscle increased on average from 199 to 295 kPa (p = 0,025). The cervical spine lateral flexion increased on average by 3 degrees towards to the side of non-dominant upper extremity (p = 0,045). This study also investigates the pressure pain threshold value changes of 7 reference points placed remotely from the area of the application. After the shockwave therapy, the pressure pain threshold values of these reference points increased on...

Ce travail de thèse s’appuie sur une étude expérimentale en tube à choc, plus précisément, c’est une approche expérimentale de l'étude de l'interaction fluide-structure. Considérons un solide indéformable auquel on laisse un degré de liberté en rotation autour d'un axe. Cette structure ferme un espace clos. Si le contenu de l'espace clos subit le passage d'une onde de choc, ce solide va être mis mouvement et tourner autour de son axe. Concrètement, l'onde de choc va augmenter les caractéristiques physiques, en particulier sa pression, du fluide en contact avec la face impactée de cette porte. La face opposée de la porte ne subissant pas ou que très peu l'influence de l'onde de choc, une seule de ses faces est soumise à la surpression. Au moment de l'impact, le déséquilibre ainsi créé impose une action mécanique sur la porte qui va la faire accélérer et tourner autour de son axe de rotation. Jusqu'à ce stade tout est relativement simple. La difficulté intervient à l'instant où la porte commence à s'ouvrir, car les frontières du volume dans lequel le fluide évolue sont modifiées. Des fuites apparaissent et le gaz qui était maintenu dans un volume clos peut maintenant s'écouler vers un milieu libre. Une communication entre les gaz agissant de chaque coté de la porte est créée modifiant leurs propriétés et par conséquent la pression agissant sur chaque côté de la porte. Les actions mécaniques qui s'appliquent sur la porte ne sont plus les mêmes, et par conséquent l'accélération que la porte subit aussi. Au fur et à mesure que la porte change de position, le problème fluide continue d'être modifié et change en retour son action sur la porte. Cette interaction perdure soit jusqu'à ce que les limites du problème cessent d'être modifiées, la porte ne peut plus bouger, ou bien lorsque les actions mécaniques agissant sur la porte s'équilibrent, les fluides de chaque côté de la porte étant dans le même état physique. Le travail présenté ici est une étude des paramètres du fluide ou du solide en mouvement qui sont les acteurs de la loi comportementale gérant ce système complexe. Pour ce faire, nous avons réalisé une maquette expérimentale mettant en action la physique que nous venons de décrire et nous l'avons adaptée à un tube à choc. En éprouvant de nombreuses configurations expérimentales, nous avons pu déterminer comment l'écoulement interne d'un tube à choc évolue lorsqu'il est plus ou moins ouvert à son extrémité. Comment une porte fermée réagit-elle à l'impact d'une onde de choc et quelles en sont les conséquences sur l'évolution des fluides mis en jeu? Quelles sont les conséquences d'une position différente de la porte au moment de l'impact avec l'onde de choc? Ou encore, quel rôle joue l'intensité de l'onde de choc incidente ou l'inertie de la porte sur toute cette dynamique? / This thesis is based on an experimental study carried out in shock tube; in particular, this is an experimental approach to the study of fluid-structure interaction. Consider a rigid body which is allowed to rotate only around an axis and which closes a confined space. If a shock wave crosses the content of the confined space, the body will accelerate and rotate around its axis. Specifically, the shock wave will increase the physical characteristics, especially its pressure, of the fluid acting on the impacted face of the door. The opposite side of the door is not influenced by the incident shock wave, only one of its faces is subjected to overpressure. Following the first impact, the resulting imbalance imposes a mechanical action on the door that will increase its speed and make it turn around its rotation axis. The difficulty comes when the door begins to open: the volume boundaries in which the fluid is contained are modified. Leaks occur and the gas kept in this closed volume can now flow to the atmosphere. Communication between the gas acting on each side of the door is created modifying their properties and consequently the pressure acting on each side of the door.The mechanical actions that apply to the door are no more the same with time, and therefore the acceleration of the door is changing. As the door moves, the fluid problem continues to be changed and in turn it changes its action on the door. This interaction process continues until either the limits of the problem ceases to be changed, the door cannot move, or when the mechanical actions acting on the door are in equilibrium, fluids on each side of the door are in the same physical state. The presented work is a study of the parameters of the fluid or the solid motion which are main actors in the behavioral law managing this complex system. In this aim, we designed an experimental device involving the physics that we have described and we have adapted it to a shock tube. Testing many experimental configurations, we could determine how the internal flow of a shock tube evolves when the end of this shock tube is more or less open.How a closed door reacts to the impact of a shock wave and what are the implications for the evolution of the involved fluids? What are the consequences of a different position of the door at the instant of the impact with the incident shock wave? What role plays the intensity of the incident shock wave or the inertia of the door on this dynamic?

Les écoulements décollés sont fortement instationnaires, l'objectif de cette thèse a été de localiser et d'identifier les phénomènes à la source de ces instationnarités et de comprendre les processus physiques permettant le transfert de l'information de ces zones sources au reste de l'écoulement. Pour ce faire une analyse des résultats issus de simulations numériques a été réalisée. En étudiant la corrélation et la cohérence entre les positions de choc et les fluctuations de pression, l'interaction a pu être séparée en plusieurs parties distinctes. A l'aide de la théorie des caractéristiques définissant les directions et les cinématiques de propagation de l'information, les liens spatio-temporels entre ces différentes régions ont pu être déterminés. Les résultats de ces études couplés avec ceux issus des expériences ont montré clairement que les phénomènes se produisant à l'intérieur de la zone de recirculation existant en aval du choc de décollement gouvernent la dynamique de la totalité de l'interaction, aussi bien à basse fréquence qu'à moyenne fréquence. Ainsi les mouvements de choc apparaissent comme le miroir des phénomènes se produisant à l'intérieur de la zone décollée. Une représentation équivalente en fluide non visqueux permettant une description du comportement instationnaire de l'interaction a aussi été proposée. / Separated flow are often strongly unsteady; the aim of this thesis is to localize and identify the sources of the unsteadiness and to understand the physical phenomena governing the information transfer from these source zones to the rest of the flow. To do this, data used for this analysis have been obtained from numerical simulations (LES). Both cross-correlation and coherence between shock motion and pressure fluctuations have shown that the interaction can be split in several distinct zones. The theory of characteristics is used to define the information paths and the propagation velocities, so that the space-time links between these regions have been determined. Both numerical and experimental studies have clearly shown that phenomena present within the recirculation buble govern the whole of the interaction, at low and intermediate frequencies. Indeed the shock motions appears as the mirror of phenomena present in the separated zone. An inviscid equivalent scenario has been proposed to represent the interaction.

Este trabalho estuda o fenômeno de evaporação rápida em jatos de líquidos superaquecidos ou metaestáveis numa região 2D. O fenômeno se inicia, neste caso, quando um jato na fase líquida a alta temperatura e pressão, emerge de um diminuto bocal projetando-se numa câmara de baixa pressão, inferior à pressão de saturação. Durante a evolução do processo, ao cruzar-se a curva de saturação, se observa que o fluido ainda permanece no estado de líquido superaquecido. Então, subitamente o líquido superaquecido muda de fase por meio de uma onda de evaporação oblíqua. Esta mudança de fase transforma o líquido superaquecido numa mistura bifásica com alta velocidade distribuída em várias direções e que se expande com velocidades supersônicas cada vez maiores, até atingir a pressão a jusante, e atravessando antes uma onda de choque. As equações que governam o fenômeno são as equações de conservação da massa, conservação da quantidade de movimento, e conservação da energia, incluindo uma equação de estado precisa. Devido ao fenômeno em estudo estar em regime permanente, um método de diferenças finitas com modelo estacionário e esquema de MacCormack é aplicado. Tendo em vista que este modelo não captura a onda de choque diretamente, um segundo modelo de falso transiente com o esquema de \"shock-capturing\": \"Dispersion-Controlled Dissipative\" (DCD) é desenvolvido e aplicado até atingir o regime permanente. Resultados numéricos com o código ShoWPhasT-2D v2 e testes experimentais foram comparados e os resultados numéricos com código DCD-2D v1 foram analisados. / This study analyses the rapid evaporation of superheated or metastable liquid jets in a two-dimensional region. The phenomenon is triggered, in this case, when a jet in its liquid phase at high temperature and pressure, emerges from a small aperture nozzle and expands into a low pressure chamber, below saturation pressure. During the evolution of the process, after crossing the saturation curve, one observes that the fluid remains in a superheated liquid state. Then, suddenly the superheated liquid changes phase by means of an oblique evaporation wave. This phase change transforms the liquid into a biphasic mixture at high velocity pointing toward different directions, with increasing supersonic velocity as an expansion process takes place to the chamber back pressure, after going through a compression shock wave. The equations which govern this phenomenon are: the equations of conservation of mass, momentum and energy and an equation of state. Due to its steady state process, the numerical simulation is by means of a finite difference method using the McCormack method of Discretization. As this method does not capture shock waves, a second finite difference method is used to reach this task, the method uses the transient equations version of the conservation laws, applying the Dispersion-Controlled Dissipative (DCD) scheme. Numerical results using the code ShoWPhasT-2D v2 and experimental data have been compared, and the numerical results from the DCD-2D v1 have been analysed.

A doença arterial coronariana crônica apresenta alta prevalência e morbidade na população, manifestando-se como uma síndrome clínica caracterizada por sintomas álgicos tipicamente desencadeados ou agravados pelo esforço físico - a angina. Define-se a angina como refratária na presença de isquemia miocárdica documentada não passível de tratamento por meio de revascularização e não controlada a despeito do tratamento farmacológico máximo tolerado. O uso de terapia com ondas de choque extracorpóreas no tratamento da isquemia miocárdica tem sido proposto como uma alternativa promissora para o alívio dos sintomas anginosos e melhora da carga isquêmica por meio da promoção de vasodilatação e neoangiogênese. No presente estudo, avaliamos o efeito da terapia guiada com ondas de choque na reserva de fluxo miocárdico, obtida pela ecocardiografia de perfusão miocárdica em tempo real (EPMTR), em pacientes com angina refratária. Determinamos, também, as implicações da terapia com ondas de choque nas variáveis clínicas por meio da avaliação da classe funcional de angina pelo escore da Canadian Cardiovascular Society (CCS), capacidade funcional pelo escore de insuficiência cardíaca da New York Heart Association (NYHA) e qualidade de vida pelo Seattle Angina Questionnaire (SAQ), assim como nas variáveis ecocardiográficas. Foram estudados 15 pacientes com angina refratária procedentes do Ambulatório de Angina Refratária do Instituto do Coração (InCor, HC-FMUSP), os quais foram submetidos a 9 sessões de terapia com ondas de choque, ao longo de 9 semanas, e acompanhados por um período de 6 meses após a conclusão do tratamento. A dinâmica das microbolhas no miocárdio foi quantificada pela EPMTR utilizando programas computacionais específicos, tanto em repouso como durante o estresse pelo dipiridamol (0,84 mg/Kg). A reserva de volume miocárdico normatizada (Anor), a reserva de velocidade de repreenchimento de microbolhas no miocárdio (?) e a reserva de fluxo miocárdico (Anor x ?) foram obtidas pela relação entre os parâmetros de fluxo durante a hiperemia e o repouso, antes e 6 meses após o tratamento com ondas de choque. Nos 15 pacientes incluídos no estudo, avaliamos 32 segmentos com isquemia miocárdica submetidos à terapia, 31 segmentos com isquemia miocárdica não submetidos à terapia e 60 segmentos não isquêmicos. Os pesquisadores que realizaram as quantificações da EPMTR não tinham conhecimento dos dados clínicos no momento da análise de perfusão. A média etária da amostra foi de 61,5 (± 12,8) anos com predomínio do sexo masculino (67%), sendo que 93% deles apresentavam doença multiarterial. Após 6 meses da conclusão da terapia com ondas de choque, foi observada uma melhora da classe de angina (CCS) de 3,20 ± 0,56 para 1,93 ± 0,70 (p = 0,0001) e de insuficiência cardíaca (NYHA) de 2,8 ± 0,56 para 2,33 ± 0,81 (p = 0,048), resultados que foram concordantes com os achados do SAQ, o qual evidenciou melhora significativa da pontuação em todas as categorias (análise global com incremento da pontuação média de 42,33 ± 13,0 para 71,16 ± 14,3; p = 0,0001). Houve uma variação da fração de ejeção do ventrículo esquerdo de 50,30 ± 13,1% para 53,20 ± 10,6% (p = 0,049) na ausência de alterações no diâmetro diastólico final (de 53,80 ± 6,61 mm para 53,53 ± 7,05 mm; p = 0,81), no volume diastólico final (de 134,67 ± 34,33 mL para 146,13 ± 59,45 mL; p = 0,29) ou na função diastólica. A análise da perfusão miocárdica pela EPMTR evidenciou um aumento significativo da reserva de fluxo miocárdico (Anor x ?) de 1,33 ± 0,22 para 1,74 ± 0,29 (p = 0,0001) e também da reserva Anor de 1,02 ± 0,21 para 1,24 ± 0,33 (p = 0,004) nos segmentos isquêmicos submetidos à terapia com ondas de choque, mas não da reserva beta (de 1,33 ± 0,24 para 1,47 ± 0,35; p = 0,055). Não houve alterações significativas na perfusão miocárdica nos segmentos isquêmicos não tratados ou nos segmentos não isquêmicos. A análise global demonstrou uma melhora na reserva de fluxo miocárdico (de 1,78 ± 0,54 para 1,89 ± 0,49; p = 0,017) e na reserva beta (de 1,63 ± 0,43 para 1,70 ± 0,40; p = 0,039). Não foram registrados eventos cardiovasculares maiores durante o período de acompanhamento. Concluímos que a EPMTR foi capaz de identificar melhora da reserva de fluxo miocárdico nos segmentos submetidos à terapia com ondas de choque, possivelmente devido à neoproliferação vascular. Os resultados sugerem que a terapia com ondas de choque em pacientes com angina refratária é segura e tem o potencial de melhorar a isquemia miocárdica nos segmentos isquêmicos tratados, com impacto nos sintomas e na qualidade de vida / Chronic coronary artery disease shows high prevalence and morbidity levels in general population. In the clinical scenario, it is usually characterized by pain symptoms typically triggered or aggravated by physical effort - the angina. Refractory angina is defined as a documented and uncontrolled myocardial ischemia, untreatable by revascularization, despite maximum tolerated drug therapy. The use of extracorporeal cardiac shock wave therapy to treat myocardial ischemia has been suggested as a promising alternative to relieve angina symptoms and improve the ischemic load by promoting vasodilation and neoangiogenic phenomena. In the present study, we evaluated the effect of guided shock wave therapy on myocardial flow reserve, determined by real-time myocardial perfusion echocardiography (RTMPE), in patients with refractory angina. We also evaluated the implications of shock wave therapy in clinical variables by assessing the Canadian Cardiovascular Society (CCS) grading of angina pectoris, New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional classification and quality of life by the Seattle Angina Questionnaire (SAQ), as well as echocardiographic variables. Fifteen patients with refractory angina, from the refractory angina outpatient clinic of the Instituto do Coração (InCor, HC-FMUSP), were studied. Each patient underwent 9 shock wave therapy sessions over the course of 9 weeks and was followed for 6 months once the treatment was concluded. Using specific software, myocardial microbubble dynamics was quantified by RTMPE at rest as well as in stress by dipyridamole (0.84 mg/Kg). Normalized myocardial blood (Anor) reserve, myocardium microbubbles replenishment rate (?) reserve and myocardial flow reserve (Anor x ?) were obtained by the ratio of flow parameters during hyperemia and rest, before and 6 months after treatment. In the 15 patients included in the study, we evaluated 32 segments with myocardial ischemia submitted to therapy, 31 segments with myocardial ischemia not submitted to therapy and 60 non-ischemic segments. Researchers were blinded to all clinical data at the time of the perfusion analysis. Patients had mean age of 61.5 (± 12.8) years old, were predominantly men (67%), and 93% presented multiarterial disease. Six months after the completion of shock wave therapy, an improvement in CCS grading of angina pectoris was observed from 3.20 ± 0.56 to 1.93 ± 0.70 (p = 0.0001) and in NYHA functional classification (from 2.80 ± 0.56 to 2.33 ± 0.81; p = 0.048), results consistent with those found by SAQ, which evidenced a significant score improvement in all categories (global analysis with average score increased from 42.33 ± 13.0 to 71.16 ± 14.3; p = 0.0001). There was a variation in the left ventricular ejection fraction (from 50.3 ± 13.1% to 53.20 ± 10.6%; p = 0.049) in the absence of changes in end-diastolic diameter (from 53.80 ± 6.61 mm to 53.53 ± 7.05 mm; p = 0.81), the end-diastolic volume (from 134.67 ± 34.33 mL to 146.13 ± 59.45 mL; p = 0.29) or the diastolic function. Myocardial perfusion analysis by RTMPE evidenced a relevant increase in myocardial flow reserve (Anor x ?) from 1.33 ± 0.22 to 1.74 ± 0.29; p = 0.0001, as well as in the Anor reserve from 1.02 ± 0.21 to 1.24 ± 0.33 (p = 0.004) in ischemic segments submitted to shock wave therapy, but not in ? reserve (from 1.33 ± 0.24 to 1.47 ± 0.35; p = 0.055). There was no significant myocardial perfusion alteration in untreated ischemic segments or non-ischemic segments. Global analysis showed an improvement in myocardial flow reserve (from 1.78 ± 0.54 to 1.89 ± 0.49; p = 0.017) and ? reserve (1.63 ± 0.43 to 1.70 ± 0.40; p = 0.039). No major cardiac events were registered during the follow-up period. We concluded that RTMPE was able to identify an increase in myocardial flow reserve in the segments submitted to shock wave therapy, possibly due to vascular neoproliferation. Results suggest that shock wave therapy on patients with refractory angina is safe, with the potential to improve myocardial ischemia on treated ischemic segments, and positively affect symptoms and quality of life

The growing requirements to achieve hypersonic flights, as in the case of reentry vehicles, pose a serious challenge to the designers. This demands an understanding of the features of hypersonic flow and its effect on hypersonic vehicles. Hypersonic shock tunnels are one of the most widely used facilities for the purpose of obtaining valuable design data by conducting experiments on scaled down models. They are operated by conventional shock tubes by rupturing metal diaphragms placed between the driver and driven sections of the shock tube. Shock tunnels are being extensively used in spite of some of the drawbacks they possess. Due to the varying nature of metal diaphragm rupture, reproducibility of the experiment results is difficult to obtain. Damage to model and inner surface of the shock tube can happen when the diaphragm petal breaks away from the diaphragm. Lastly the time consuming diaphragm replacement process is not desired in applications which require quick loading of shock waves on the specimen. All these disadvantages call for the replacement of the diaphragm mode of operation with a diaphragmless mode of operation for the generation of shock waves. The main objective of the present study is to design and demonstrate the working of a diaphragmless hypersonic shock tunnel. The motivation for the present study comes from the fact that the diaphragmless operation of a shock tunnel has not been reported so far in the open literature. All the research works carried out deal with diaphragmless drivers operating only a shock tube. In the present work, the conventional metal diaphragm is substituted by fast acting pneumatic valves which serve the purpose of quickly opening the driven section of the shock tube to allow the driver gas to rush in, resulting in the formation of a shock wave. To design a diaphragmless driver, a detailed study of the shock formation process is accomplished which helps in understanding the effect of valve opening time on the shock formation distance. Also the theoretical basis for the design of a pneumatic cylinder is understood. Following the theoretical studies, three types of diaphragmless drivers are designed and tested. The first setup incorporates a rubber membrane, which acts as a valve. The rubber membrane when bulged closes the mouth of the driven section and on retraction the driven section is opened to the driver gas. The second and the third setups utilise two different types of double acting pneumatic cylinders. Experimental results of the three diaphragmless drivers operating a shock tube are analysed and compared with the ideal shock tube theory. Better repeatability in terms of shock Mach number is shown with all three diaphragmless shock tubes when compared with a conventionally operated shock tube. Finally, the best among the three systems is identified to operate the hypersonic shock tunnel 2 (HST2) facility of the Shock Waves laboratory, IISc. Demonstration of the working of the diaphragmless shock tunnel is shown by performing heat transfer measurements on a 3 mm backward facing step flat plate model. The experimental results are compared with those obtained in a conventional shock tunnel. CFD studies on diaphragmless shock tube model are done to have an idea on the flow in the shock tube there by identifying the shock formation distance. ANSYS-CFX package is used for this purpose. Further, results from the numerical simulation of hypersonic flow over the backward facing step model are compared with the experimental results thus validating the code.