Welcome to the T5 home page

The T5 Hypervelocity Shock Tunnel is an impulse facility capable of reaching very high stagnation temperatures and pressures at relatively high densities. These conditions are needed to simulate the real gas effects of chemical dissociation and reaction that occur in flows about vehicles flying at sub-orbital speeds through the atmosphere.

News

Jun 2013 - FLDI work continues; co2 seeding study continues;

May 2013 - Nick defends his PhD thesis! FLDI work continues; co2 seeding study continues;

Apr 2013 - FLDI work continues; co2 seeding study continues;

Mar 2013 - FLDI work continues; co2 seeding study continues; Nick, Joe S, and Hans publish an AIAA Tech Note.

Feb 2013 - FLDI work continues; co2 seeding study continues

Jan 2013 - FLDI work continues; co2 seeding study continues; T5 members attend the 51st AIAA Aerospace Sciences Meeting Including the New Horizons Forum and Aerospace Exposition in Grapevine, Texas

Dec 2012 - FLDI work continues; co2 seeding study continues; Stuart, Nick, and Ralf publish a JFM article, a photo from this article is on the cover!

Nov 2012 - FLDI work continues; co2 seeding study continues

Oct 2012 - FLDI work continues; co2 seeding study continues; Bryan passes the qualifying exam!; T5 group attends the International Workshop on Hypersonic Stability and Transition in Sedona, Arizona

Sep 2012 - FLDI work continues; co2 seeding study continues; Shuttle flies over T5, with Millikan in the background, a close up shot, and a lab group shot

Aug 2012 - FLDI work continues; co2 seeding study continues; The GALCIT department softball team, Alberta Sunrise, wins the Thursday night championship

Jul 2012 - FLDI work continues; co2 seeding study continues; T5 members attend the 42nd AIAA Fluid Dynamics Conference in New Orleans, Louisiana

Jun 2012 - FLDI work continues; co2 seeding study continues

May 2012 - FLDI work continues; co2 seeding study continues

Apr 2012 - co2 seeding study continues; Second FLDI built

Mar 2012 - co2 seeding study continues; Focused laser differential interferometer data reduction continues

Feb 2012 - Noise characterization in T5 and Ludwieg Tube ends; co2 seeding testing begins

Jan 2012 - Noise characterization in T5 and Ludwieg Tube continues; Fast pressure transducers installed on the cone

Dec 2011 - Nozzle throat insert testing continues; R. M. Wagnild visits from University of Minesota to discuss co2 injection study

Nov 2011 - Nozzle throat insert testing begins; First tests of a focused differential interferometer are made with mixed results; Transition delay by co2 injection study continues

Oct 2011 - Schlieren Deflectometry study continues to change path; Transition delay by co2 injection study continues

Sep 2011 - Schlieren Deflectometry study changes path; Transition delay by co2 injection study continues, emphasizing n2 shots

Aug 2011 - Schlieren Deflectometry study temporarily halted; Transition delay by co2 injection study continues; Attempt to remove diaphragm striker plate is successful

Jul 2011 - Schlieren Deflectometry study continues; Optical flow perturber testing is halted temporarily; Transition delay by co2 injection study continues; Attempt to remove diaphragm striker plate is TBD; T5 members attend the 28th International Shock Wave Symposium in Manchester, UK

Jun 2011 - Schlieren Deflectometry study continues; Optical flow perturber testing continues; Transition delay by co2 injection study continues; A. Federov delivers four part lecture series at Caltech; Nick passes his PhD candidacy exam!

May 2011 - Schlieren Deflectometry study continues; Optical flow perturber installed, testing begins; Transition delay by co2 injection study continues

Apr 2011 - Schlieren Deflectometry study continues; Transition delay by co2 injection study continues; Nozzle in Ludwieg Tube is switched from Mach 4.0 to Mach 2.3

Mar 2011 - Schlieren Deflectometry study continues; Transition delay by co2 injection study continues

Feb 2011 - New opto-electronic components implemented for Schlieren Deflectometry study; Cone is placed back into test section after TC repair

Jan 2011 - New opto-electronic components arrive for Schlieren Deflectometry study; Cone is removed from test section for TC repair; Shock surfing project continues

Dec 2010 - New opto-electronic components ordered for Schlieren Deflectometry study; Cone is removed from test section for TC repair; Shock surfing project continues

Nov 2010 - Schlieren Deflectometry study continues; Transition delay by co2 injection study continues; Shock surfing project continues, highlighted here and here, APS conference Nov 21-23

Oct 2010 - Schlieren Deflectometry study continues; Cone is moved backward 10cm; Transition delay by co2 injection is studied at different enthalpy; Shock surfing project continues

Sep 2010 - Optical tables mounted to test section for Schlieren Deflectometry study; Particulate Blocker is ready for testing; Transition delay by co2 injection is studied at high total pressure; Shock surfing project continues; Todd Davidson leaves after a SURF

Aug 2010 - Schlieren Deflectometry shifts course; Particulate Blocker is manufactured; Transition delay by co2 injection is demonstrated!; Shock surfing project continues

Jul 2010 - Focused Laser Schlieren Deflectometry project continues; Particulate Blocker project continues; Transition delay by co2 injection project continues; Shock surfing project continues

Jun 2010 - Focused Laser Schlieren Deflectometry project continues; Diaphragm Particulate Blocker/Cylindrically Focusing Shock Symmetry Breaker project continues; Transition delay by co2 injection project continues; Shock surfing project continues

May 2010 - Focused Laser Schlieren Deflectometry project begins; Diaphragm Particulate Blocker/Cylindrically Focusing Shock Symmetry Breaker project begins; Transition delay by co2 injection project continues; Shock surfing project continues

Apr 2010 - Transition delay by co2 injection project continues; Ludwieg Tube is running again; Shock surfing project begins

Mar 2010 - Transition delay by co2 injection project continues; Bahram obtains 3-D printer; publications updated

Feb 2010 - Diaphagm holder seal redone; transition delay by co2 injection project continues; updated checklist

Jan 2010 - Transition delay by co2 injection project continues

Dec 2009 - Testing for NASA Ames ends; ablation in a shock tunnel feasibility study begins; more website updates

Nov 2009 - Testing for NASA Ames continues; more website updates

Oct 2009 - Testing for NASA Ames begins; Nick and Joe pass the qualifying exam!; more website updates

Sep 2009 - Dump tank vacuum pump re-installed; website updates

Aug 2009 - Dump tank vacuum pump rebuilt; new website