Experimental Investigation of a Shock-Accelerated Liquid Layer with Imaging and Pressure Measurement

• Published in: Fusion science and technology Vol. 44; no. 2; pp. 351 - 355
• Main Authors: Meekunnasombat, P., Oakley, J. G., Anderson, M. H., Bonazza, R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Taylor & Francis 01.09.2003
• Subjects: 70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY; COOLING; FIRST WALL; ICF DEVICES; INERTIAL CONFINEMENT; INERTIAL FUSION DRIVERS; LAYERS; LIQUIDS; LOADING; PRESSURE MEASUREMENT; SHOCK TUBES; SHOCK WAVES; THICKNESS; WATER
• ISSN: 1536-1055; 1943-7641
• DOI: 10.13182/FST03-A359

Many inertial fusion energy reactor designs incorporate the use of liquid wall protection of cooling tubes to mitigate damage due to energetic particles and to absorb target debris. However, the pressure loading of the reactor first wall from the impulsive loading from the shock-accelerated liquid layer may be a concern. A vertical shock tube is used to conduct shock-accelerated liquid layer experiments to simulate this scenario. A shock wave contacts and accelerates a water layer down the shock tube where it is imaged in the test section. The pressure histories at various positions along the length of the shock tube are digitally recorded as well as the shadowgraph image of the breakup of the water layer. It is found that the speed of the transmitted shock wave is reduced after passing through the liquid layer, however, the pressure load at the end-wall of the shock tube is significantly increased due to the present of the liquid layer. Water layers of two different thicknesses are studied at several Mach numbers ranging from 1.34 to 3.20.