Estimation of Mach Number of Shock Wave Propagating in Pipe

A useful way to estimate the local Mach number of shock propagating in a pipe is proposed in this paper. The shock Mach number, or the shock strength gradually decreases or increases as the shock propagates downstream in pipe due to the shock-boundary layer interaction. In general, the shock Mach number is estimated through the measurement of the time, which it takes for the shock to propagate between any two points along the pipe. This technique is very useful if the decreasing rate of the shock strength is given and it, after all, yields the average Mach number between the two points. In this paper the measurement of the local Mach number of shock in the shock tube is examined using one pressure transducer. The pressure history after the shock reaches the pressure tap is analyzed. The method to estimate the local Mach number is discussed considering the dynamic characteristic of the pressure transducer.