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Type of Document	Dissertation
Author	Jackson, Scott Irving
URN	etd-05242005-151253
Persistent URL	http://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechETD:etd-05242005-151253
Title	Gaseous detonation initiation via wave implosion
Degree	PhD
Option	Aeronautics
Advisory Committee	Advisor Name Title H.G. Hornung Committee Co-Chair J.E. Shepherd Committee Co-Chair Anthony Leonard Committee Member Donald S. Cohen Committee Member Thomas H. Heaton Committee Member
Keywords	small tube pulse detonation engine detonation imploding detonation imploding shock toroidal initiation
Date of Defense	2005-04-15
Availability	unrestricted
Abstract Efficient detonation initiation is a topic of intense interest to designers of pulse detonation engines. This experimental work is the first to detonate propane-air mixtures with an imploding detonation wave and to detonate a gas mixture with a non-reflected, imploding shock. In order to do this, a unique device has been developed that is capable of generating an imploding toroidal detonation wave inside of a tube from a single ignition point without any obstruction to the tube flow path. As part of this study, an initiator that creates a large-aspect-ratio planar detonation wave in gas-phase explosive from a single ignition point has also been developed. The effectiveness of our initiation devices has been evaluated. The minimum energy required by the imploding shock for initiation was determined to scale linearly with the induction zone length, indicating the presence of a planar initiation mode. The imploding toroidal detonation initiator was found to be more effective at detonation initiation than the imploding shock initiator, using a comparable energy input to that of current initiator tubes.
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