Prediction of Shock Wave Angle

Using Shadowgraph Technique

Jaydeep Prajapati
B21ME030
Objective:
The purpose of the experiment using the shadowgraph technique to predict
the shock wave angle is to gain a better understanding of the behaviour of
shock waves and their interaction with objects.

Introduction:
Shock waves are common in numerous scientific and engineering
disciplines. They can cause severe damage to materials and structures and
are frequently associated with high-velocity flows. Therefore, it is essential
to perceive the behaviour of shock waves and their effects on various
media.
Shadowgraph is a technique for monitoring and analysing seismic waves.
This technique involves beaming light through a material and
simultaneously documenting its shadow on a screen or photographic film.
Using the generated images, it is possible to investigate the shock wave's
angle and other germane factors.
This experiment attempts to predict the propagation angle of a shock wave
across a medium using the shadowgraph method. By adjusting the
medium's pressure and temperature, it is possible to investigate the
behaviour of the shock wave and its effects on the medium.

Theory:
The fundamentals of optics and fluid physics form the basis for the
shadowgraph method for estimating the shock wave angle. As a shock
wave travels through an object, the refractive index of the surrounding
medium changes. This change in refractive index causes the light to deflect
as it passes through the medium, distorting the shadow that the object
casts.
By observing the shadow's distortion, researchers can calculate the angle
of the shock wave as it travels through the object. This is achieved by
calculating the angle between the shadow boundaries and the shadow that
has not been altered.
Stronger shock waves cause more distortion, which correlates with the
degree of shadow distortion.
Its angle is determined by the angle at which the shock wave intersects the
surface of the object. The shock wave angle can be predicted using
theoretical models of fluid mechanics, such as the Rankine-Hugoniot jump
conditions.
These simulations account for variables such as the shock wave's pressure
and velocity as well as the characteristics of the surrounding medium.
This formula can be used to calculate the shock angle, also known as the
Mach angle.

= asin(1/M)

where represents the impact angle, M represents the Mach number, and
asin represents the inverse sine function.
The Mach number is an unmeasured quantity that expresses the ratio of an
object's velocity to the speed of sound in the surrounding medium.

M=v/c

where v is the velocity of the object and c is the speed of sound in the
medium.
By inserting the Mach number into the formula for shock angle, it is
possible to calculate the angle at which the shock wave propagates
through the medium. Note that this formula considers the shock wave to be
planar and the medium to be a perfect gas. In practise, it may be necessary
to perform more complex calculations to account for non-ideal behaviour
and other variables that can influence the behaviour of shock waves.

Apparatus:

● Shock wave generator: This could be a simple setup involving an

explosive charge or a more sophisticated setup using a shock tube.

● Test object: The test object should be small enough to fit within the
field of view of the shadowgraph setup and should have a shape that
will cause the shock wave to create a clear distortion in its shadow.
The object could be a flat plate, a model of an aircraft wing, or a
bullet, depending on the specific application.

● Light source: A bright light source such as a strobe light or a laser is

required to cast a clear shadow of the test object onto the screen or
photographic plate

● Screen or photographic plate: This is used to capture the shadow of

the test object. The screen or plate should be placed on the opposite
side of the object from the light source.

● Camera or image analysis software: A camera or image analysis

software can be used to capture and analyze the shadow image.
Methodology:

● Using the shadowgraph technique, the following is a general

procedure for conducting an experiment to predict the shock wave
angle:
● Configure the shock wave generator in accordance with the method
employed, such as an explosive charge or shock tube.
● Select a test object that is small enough to fit within the field of view
of the shadowgraph configuration and that has a shape that will
clearly distort its shadow when a shock wave passes through it.
Place the test object within the shock wave generator's path.
● Configure the shadowgraph system. Typically, this entails positioning
a bright light source on one side of the test object and a screen or
photographic plate on the opposite side, sandwiching the test object
in between.
● Activate the shock wave generator and record the test object's
shadow on the screen or photographic plate. As required, adjust the
timing and placement of the light source and the test object to
capture the shock wave at the desired angle.
● Examine the distortion in the shadow to determine the angle of the
shock wave. This can be accomplished through the use of image
analysis software or by measuring the angles of the shadow margins
relative to the undisturbed shadow using measurement instruments.
● Repeat the experiment with the test object and shock wave generator
at various angles to obtain a variety of data and ensure the
consistency of the results.
● Compare the measured shock wave angles to fluid mechanics-based
theoretical models, such as the Rankine-Hugoniot jump conditions, to
validate the experiment and obtain additional insight into shock wave
behaviour.
 ● Document and analyse the collected data, deriving conclusions
regarding the behaviour of shock waves in various configurations and
applications.

Observations and Results:

Link:
https://colab.research.google.com/drive/1zqASjdTwKLzUgYhJM4ky989-
GtC0W2fL

Observation notes:
During an experiment to predict the shock wave angle using the
shadowgraph technique, the following observations may be made:
Distortion of the test object's shadow: A shock wave passing through the
test object will cause a distortion in the shadow, with the quantity and
shape of the distortion dependent on the intensity and angle of the shock
wave.
Variations in the angle of the shadow's margins: The distortion in the
shadow will result in variations in the angle of the shadow's edges
compared to the undisturbed shadow. These modifications can be
measured with a protractor or other instruments.
Variation in the angle of the shock wave Changing the angle of the test
object or the shock wave generator will result in variations in the angle of
the shock wave, as observed by the distortion of the shadow.
Dependence of shock wave angle on test object geometry: The shape and
orientation of the test object can influence the angle of the shock wave as
it travels through, causing variations in the shadow distortion and the
resulting shock wave angle.Validation of theoretical models: Comparing the
measured shock wave angles to fluid mechanics-based theoretical models,
such as the Rankine-Hugoniot jump conditions, can help validate the
experiment and provide additional insight into shock wave behaviour.
In addition to measuring the shock wave angle, qualitative observations of
shock wave behaviour, such as the formation of shock diamonds or the
generation of turbulence, can be made using the shadowgraph
configuration.
Discussion:
1. Discuss some key differences between Shadowgraph and Schlieren
Visualisation techniques along with proper ray diagrams.

Shadowgraph - The shadowgraph is the simplest form of optical system

suitable for observing a flow exhibiting variations of the fluid density. In
principle, the system does not need any optical component except a light
source and a recording plane onto which to project the shadow of the
varying density field (Figure 1). A shadow effect is generated because a
light ray is refractively deflected so that the position on the recording plane
where the undeflected ray would arrive now remains dark. At the same time
the position where the deflected ray arrives appears brighter than the
undisturbed environment. A visible pattern of variations of the illumination
(contrast) is thereby produced in the recording plane. From an analysis of
the optics of the shadow effect [see, e.g., Merzkirch (1981,1987)], it follows
that the visible signal depends on the second derivative of the refractive
index of the fluid. Therefore, the shadowgraph as an optical diagnostic
technique is sensitive to changes of the second derivative of the fluid
density.
Schlieren - Schlieren visualization is similar to the shadowgraph technique,
but the primary difference is that while shadowgraphs are sensitive to
changes in the second derivative in density, schlieren systems detect
changes to the first derivative in density. A schlieren setup is nearly
identical to that of a shadowgraph but with the addition of a knife edge at
the focal point of the second lens or mirror as shown in Figure 4. The
amount of light blocked by the knife edge is commonly referred to as
“cutoff.” Undeflected light rays are affected uniformly by the knife edge and
the intensity of the image is reduced with increased cutoff. As light passes
through a density field with a non-constant first derivative, the light rays are
deflected. If light rays are deflected towards the knife edge, the part of the
image where those light rays originate from will be darkened more than a
part of the image with constant density. Conversely, if light rays are
deflected away from the knife edge, that part of the image will appear
brighter than unaffected regions of the image. Thus schlieren setups are
only sensitive to density gradients normal to the knife edge.. Notice in this
image that the brightness of waves appears reversed in the top and bottom
of the image. This is a common feature of many schlieren images because
light is being deflected in opposite directions by gradients on the top and
bottom of the model.
 2. Discuss the difference in sensitivity of Shadowgraph and Schlieren
Visualisation techniques.
The primary advantage of schlieren visualization over shadowgraph
visualization is that of sensitivity. The sensitivity of a shadowgraph setup
depends primarily upon optical path length, which is typically difficult and
expensive to modify. The sensitivity of a schlieren setup, however, mainly
depends on the amount of cutoff used. Higher cutoff leads to decreased
brightness in the image, so increased sensitivity comes at the cost of
necessitating a more powerful light source. A related tradeoff exists for the
camera. Increased exposure time increases the brightness of the image but
reduces the ability to observe transient phenomena like nonsteady waves
or turbulence in the flow.

Conclusions:

The Shadowgraph technique is an optical method for visualising and

quantifying refractive index gradients in fluids. This technique utilises a
collimated light source and the principle of refraction to produce a shadow
pattern on a screen when light passes through an object and interacts with
its refractive index gradient.
Similarly, the Schlieren visualisation method is an optical technique based
on the principle of refraction.
Nonetheless, it employs a more complex optical configuration that
amplifies the refractive index gradient, making it more sensitive to minute
fluid disturbances. The Schlieren technique involves using a knife edge and
a lens to magnify the subtle changes in the refractive index gradient,
resulting in a proportional pattern of light and dark on the screen.
Visualising and quantifying fluid refractive index gradients is facilitated by
both the Shadowgraph and Schlieren techniques. The technique chosen will
depend on the nature of the experiment and the requisite level of sensitivity
for the desired results.
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https://towardsdatascience.com/canny-edge-detection-step-by-step-in-p
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https://in.mathworks.com/help/images/ref/edge.html
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