Shock Wave Propagation Into a Dust-Gas Suspension Inside a Double-Bend Conduit

Abstract

Using conduits in which a transmitted shock wave experiences abrupt changes in its direction of propagation is an effective means for shock wave attenuation. An additional attenuation of the transmitted shock wave is obtained when the medium contained inside the conduit (through which the shock wave is transmitted) is a suspension rather than a pure gas. The present numerical study shows that adding small solid particles (dust) into the gaseous phase results in sharp attenuation of all shock waves passing through the conduit. It is shown that the smaller the dust particles diameter is, the higher the shock attenuation becomes. Increasing the dust mass loading in the suspension also causes a quick attenuation. By proper choice of dust mass loading in the suspension, or the particles diameter, it is possible to ensure that the emerging wave from the conduit exit channel is a (smooth) compression wave, rather than a shock wave.