Insights into shock velocity variation in double-diaphragm shock tubes

A comprehensive understanding of shock formation and propagation in shock tubes is crucial for their diverse applications. The shock velocity in single-diaphragm shock tubes, characterized by initial acceleration and subsequent attenuation due to viscous effects, has been extensively investigated. However, limited studies exist on the double-diaphragm mode of operation. In this study, shock tube experiments were conducted using helium at pressures of 10-60 bar as driver gas and argon at pressures of 100-600 Torr as driven gas. The shock velocity profiles in the double-diaphragm mode show a sequence of acceleration and deceleration stages of the shock front, strongly influenced by the driver-to-driven pressure ratios (P₄₁) and the pressure in the intermediate section (P_mid). Particularly, at high values of P₄₁, peak shock velocities can exceed those measured near the end wall by about 12%. Large axial temperature gradients arise in the driven gas due to the accelerating and decelerating shock. Selecting appropriate diaphragms to maintain the intermediate section's pressure close to the value of the driver pressure can reduce peak shock velocities and post-shock temperatures. An in-house one-dimensional (1D) weighted essentially non-oscillatory scheme-based code was utilized to analyze wave interactions in the shock formation region, revealing that the post-shock gas behind the secondary diaphragm and inhibition of the primary diaphragm's opening and subsequent reopening can lead to unique shock profiles in double-diaphragm shock tubes. These insights deepen our understanding of wave propagation in shock tubes and suggest ways to mitigate undesirable effects in double-diaphragm shock tubes.