Fabrication and testing of the Purdue Mach-6 quiet-flow Ludwieg tube

Purdue University is developing a Mach-6 Ludwieg tube for quiet-flow operation to high Reynolds number. The aerodynamic and mechanical design were reported on earlier. The design predicts laminar flow to the exit of the 9.5-inch nozzle, at a unit Reynolds number of 3 million per foot. The detailed mechanical design, fabrication, and testing are challenging, since maintenance of a laminar boundary layer on the nozzle wall requires very tight tolerances and uniform mirror finishes. Critical issues in mechanical design and fabrication are discussed, along with results of tests carried out during fabrication. The measurements include contour accuracy, waviness, and roughness. The design and testing of other facility systems are also described: these include the driver-tube heating, and the air filtering and heating equipment.

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