The boundary layer in a shock tube

Abstract

The boundary layer that forms on the walls of a shock tube, after the diaphragm which initially separates two gases at different pressures is burst, is investigated. Both the driver and driven gases are assumed to have the same thermal properties and the shock tube wall is maintained at constant temperature. Crocco variables are used and a method is presented for solving the compressible boundary-layer equations within the tube in similarity variables. Three cases, corresponding to different initial pressure ratios of the driver and driven gases, are calculated which are representative of weak and medium-strength shock and expansion waves.