Physics for Mechanical Engineering Stream 22PHYM12/22
4. General wave properties are not applicable to shock waves
5. When they turn around a convex corner, they break-up into very large number of
expanding supersonic waves diverging from a central spot. This process is called
supersonic expansion fan.
6. Shock waves when produced in a medium lead to an enormous increase in pressure,
density and temperature of the medium.
7. Across the shock wave, supersonic flow is decelerated into sub sonic flow. This process
occurs adiabatically but with a change in the internal energy.
Reddy Shock Tube:
Reddy tube is hand operated shock tube capable of producing shock waves by using
human energy. It is a long cylindrical tube with two sections separated by a diaphragm. It’s one
end is fitted with the piston and the other end is closed or open to the surroundings.
Description/Construction of Reddy Shock Tube:
• Reddy tube consists of a long cylindrical stainless-steel tube of about 30mm diameter.
• It is divided into 2 sections each of length about 50 cm. One is the driver section other is
driven section separated by a 0.1 mm thick aluminum or paper diaphragm.
• It has a piston fitted at the far end of the driver section. Whereas the end of the driven
section is closed.
• A digital pressure gauge is mounted in the driver section next to the diaphragm.
• Two piezoelectric sensors S1 and S2 are mounted on the driven section.
• The driver section is filled with gas termed as driver gas (high pressure) and the gas in
the driven section is termed driven gas.
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Working:
• The driver gas is compressed by pushing the piston hard into the driver tube until
diaphragm ruptures. Following the rupture, the driver gas rushes into the driven section
generating a moving shock wave that traverses the length of the driven section. The
shock wave instantaneously raises the temperature and pressure of the driven (test) gas as
the shock moves over it.
• The propagating primary shock wave is reflected from the downstream end. After the
reflection, the test gas undergoes further compression which boosts its temperature and
pressure further
• The state of high values of pressure and temperature is sustained at the downstream end
until an expansion wave reflected from the upstream end of the driver tube arrives there
and neutralizes the compression partially.
• Using the sensors S1 and S2 the time taken by the shock to propagate the distance ‘x’
between the sensors is noted as ‘t’.
• Using the data so obtained, Mach number can be calculated as follows
Evaluation of Mach No. M:
x
Shock speed of primary shock U =
wave; s
t
Us
Mach number; M=
a
Here ‘a’ is the speed of sound.
Applications of shock waves
• Cell information - by passing shock wave of appropriate strength DNA can be pushed
inside a cell
• Gas dynamics studies
• Aerodynamics – hypersonic shock tunnels, scramjet engines.
• High temperature chemical kinetics
• Restoring of depleted bore wells
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• Material studies – effect of sudden impact of pressure - blast protection materials
• Investigation of traumatic brain injuries
• Needle-less drug delivery
• Treatment of Kidney stones
• Industrial applications (E.g.- pencil)
• Preservation of wood & bamboo by injecting chemical preservatives using shock waves
Important Questions:
1. Describe the construction and working of a Reddy Shock Tube.
2. What is a shock wave? Mention its properties.
3. Mention the applications of shock waves.
NUMERICALS:
1. A body is moving with a speed of 3000 km/hr in air. Classify the speed of the
body based on Mach Number, given velocity of sound in air is 340 m/s.
Solution: The velocity of the body = v = 3000 km/hr =
833.3m/s Velocity of the sound in air = a = 340 m/s
w.k.t. Mach Number = M = v/a = 833.3 = 2.45
340
Since Mach Number M= 2.45 in the range 1.2<M< 5, the body is moving with
Supersonic speed.
2. Calculate the speed of the sound in Helium gas at 350 K. Take specific heat for
the gas 1.667 and R = 2008 J/KgK.
Solution: Temperature of the gas = 350 K
Specific heat of the gas = γ = 1.667
Gas constant = R = 2008 J/Kg/K
w.k.t speed of the sound = a= √𝛾𝑅𝑇 = √1.667 𝑋 2008𝑋 350 = 1082.3
Speed of the sound = a = 1082.3 m/s
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3. The difference between two pressure sensors in a shock tube is 150 mm. The
time taken by a shock wave to travel this distance is 0.3 msec. If the velocity of
sound under the same condition is 340 m/s, find the Mach number of the shock
wave.
Solution: Distance between sensor = d= 150 mm= 150x10-3 m
Take taken for shock wave to travel = t = 0.3 ms = 0.3 x 10-3 s
Velocity of the sound = a = 340 m/s
—3
150x10
Velocity of the shock wave = d/t= = 500 m/s
0.3 x 10—3
M = v/a = 500/340 = 1.47
Mach Number = M = 1.47.
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