Image Processing of Triple Shock Wave Evolution

Abstract

Shock diamonds occur in over- or under- expanded supersonic flow. They occur in the unsteady jet of a pulse detonation engine, displaying an array of complex features. Due to the highly transient nature of the flow, it must be captured using high-speed cinematography. A study of image processing of shock reflection in unsteady flow is presented. Using a computer-based environment, a method was developed to process images of shock waves to pinpoint where the shock wave starts. Using mathematical methods, such as Abel transforms, a computer code, written in Matlab, was developed to accurately transform the images to detect density distributions in the form of shock waves. The Mach number and specific heat, pressure, temperature, and density ratios were found using shock polars. Evolution of the flow was examined by transforming images to follow the flow patterns. Seven images were selected and analyzed with the methods developed in this thesis. Then a comparison was done by tracking particles seeded in the flow. The particle tracking revealed velocities which were compared to the Mach numbers found using the shock polars.