A QUALITATIVE THEORY FOR VISUALIZING 3-DIMENSIONAL SHOCK-WAVES AROUND HYPERSONIC VEHICLES USING ELECTRIC-DISCHARGE

The method for visualizing three-dimensional shock waves around hypersonic vehicles using an electric discharge has been described. A qualitative theory of the method has been established by considering the relation among the radiation intensity from the electric discharge, the excitation function vs. electron energies, and the gas molecular number density. By establishing the qualitative theory, it has been found that there exists an optimum experimental condition. By utilizing the result, there dimensional shock shapes around hypersonic vehicles have been visualized successfully. First, as an example of this method, the cross-sectional shock shape over a wedge is visualized. Moreover, the wedge shocks generated between the two wedges crossed at right angles have been demonstrated.