Feasibility of a High-Performance Aerodynamic Impulse Facility

A study has been conducted to ascertain the feasibility of a high-performance aerodynamic impulse facility capable of producing a high velocity and high Reynolds number environment. Of many facilities considered, those most promising were magnetic annular arc tunnels and expansion tubes as single-stage techniques, and a shock tunnel driving a j X B accelerator as a two-stage technique. The expansion tube can theoretically achieve the conditions required, but experimental results indicate that prohibitive lengths and energies above 108 joules will be required to achieve the times necessary for aerodynamic testing. The shock tunnel driving st j X B accelerator necessary to achieve the environment will be physically large and consequently require more than 108 joules energy, but experiments to date indicate no limitations that will prevent attainment of the desired environment. Experimental performance of the magnetic annular arc (a new device considered for this application) implies that it can achieve the environment considered, but research directed more specifically to this goal must be performed to fully evaluate its potential.