This thesis is composed of two distinct parts. The first part of this work addresses the problem of critical ignition behind a decaying shock wave in the context of cellular detonations. Low-pressure (4.1 kPa) shock tube experiments were performed in a thin rectangular channel using the highly-unstable mixture of CH4 + 2O2 and the weakly-unstable mixture of 2H2 + O2 + 7Ar, with Schlieren visualization of the flow field. The dynamics of the lead shock in a detonation cell was reconstructed from measurements of the lead shock position and curvature. The post-shock state and the expansion rate along the path of a Lagrangian particle crossing the lead shock at any given point in the cell cycle were evaluated with the shock jump and shock change equations. The chemical evolution behind the shock was then integrated using a detailed chemistry model. Quenching of the post-shock reaction zone was found within the first half of the detonation cell for both mixtures, with quenching occurring earlier in the highly unstable mixture. Simplified models derived from 1-step and 2-step chemistry models very accurately predict the quenching of the post-shock reactions and the evolution of the ignition delay through the cell.
The second part describes the assembly and characterization of a fibre-optic probe hydrophone (FOPH) for the measurement of shock waves associated with blast-induced neuro-trauma. Compared to traditional polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF) hydrophones, the assembled FOPH has a higher bandwidth and smaller active diameter, which are comparable to the characteristic time and thickness of shock waves associated with blast-induced neuro-trauma. However, the sensitivity of FOPHs are substantially lower than traditional hydrophones. We assemble a FOPH and provide detailed calculations and measurements of its sensitivity (0.66 mV/MPa) , noise floor, and spatial resolution. The 150 MHz bandwidth, limited by the photodetector, is sufficient for resolving shock waves with over-pressures of up to 174 kPa with 3 measurement points. Experimental measurements of the system noise gives a floor of 260 Pa/√Hz . A detailed noise analysis finds that the system is limited by photodetector noise (215 Pa/√Hz), which is 4x the fundamental shot noise limit, closely followed by a laser noise of 150 Pa/√Hz. We conclude that the system noise floor is insufficient for resolved measurements of the post-shock pressure in the range associated with blast-induced neuro-trauma. From our noise analysis, we quantify the sensitivity enhancement required for resolving this regime, and we conclude that sensitivity-enhancing fibre-coatings could provide a sufficient increase in sensitivity.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:uottawa.ca/oai:ruor.uottawa.ca:10393/42793 |
| Date | 06 October 2021 |
| Creators | Cheevers, Kevin |
| Contributors | Radulescu, Matei, St-Gelais, Raphael |
| Publisher | Université d'Ottawa / University of Ottawa |
| Source Sets | Université d’Ottawa |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | application/pdf |
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