Multiheaded structure of gaseous detonation

Abstract

The ‘multiheaded spin’ structure of self-sustaining gaseous detonations in oxy-acetylene mixtures has been studied at initial pressures from 0·03 to 0·2 atm. Density measurements have been made using an interferometer and quantitative schlieren techniques together with high speed photography and pressure and temperature records. To compare the non-equilibrium zone with the chemical kinetic data the ignition delay measurements were performed for oxy-acetylene mixtures at T = 1 000° to 2 500°K using the reflected shock wave method. The kinetic data are described by −log(τ[O 2]) mole sec l −1=11·56±0·15−(25 000±2 200)/4·58 T According to these data the observed shock-reaction zone thickness is more than one order longer than the one-dimensional stationary one. Hydrodynamic explanations of this fact based on the transverse compression wave scheme are proposed. The diffraction of multiheaded detonation waves is described as an example of the influence of flow conditions on the structure of the detonation wave.