Ram Accelerators, Softcover reprint of the original 1st ed. 1998 Proceedings of the Third International Workshop on Ram Accelerators Held in Sendai, Japan, 16-18 July 1997

Ram accelerators are among the most advanced tools for generating fluid dynamcis data in supersonic reacting systems. They require the combined action of combustion, wave systems and turbulence and are still a serious challenge for physicists and engineers. This book will serve as an introductionary textbook on ram accelerators and gives a thorough overview on research activities, performance modeling and high-pressure detonation dynamics.

Lecture Notes.- The Ram Accelerator: Overview and State of the Art.- Ram Accelerator Performance Modeling.- Real Gas Effects in Ram Accelerator Propellant Mixtures: Theoretical Concepts and Applied Thermo chemical Codes.- Facilities and Experiments.- High Acceleration Experiments Using a Multi-stage Ram Accelerator.- RAMAC in Subdetonative Propulsion Mode: State of the ISL Studies.- Presentation of the Rail Tube Version II of ISL’s RAMAC.- The Behaviour of Fin-Guided Projectiles Superdetonative Accelerated in ISL’s RAMAC.- High Performance Ram Accelerator Research.- Ignition Study for Low Pressure Combustible Mixture in a Ram Accelerator.- Thermally Choked Operation in a 25-mm-Bore Ram Accelerator.- 37-mm-Bore Ram Accelerator of CARDC.- Performance Prediction.- Real Gas Effects on Thermally Choked Ram Accelerator Performance.- Numerical Investigation on Subdetonative Mode Ramjet-in-Tube.- On the Optimization of Thermally-Choked Ram Accelerator Systems.- Prediction of Surface Heating of a Projectile Flying in RAMAC 30 of ISL.- Ram Accelerator Optimization and Use of Hydrogen Core to Increase Projectile Velocity.- Analysis and Experimental Results of a Fin-Stabilized Subcaliber Projectile with a Blunt Step in the External Propulsion Accelerator.- Starting Processes.- Effects of Launch Tube Shock Dynamics on Initiation of Ram Accelerator Operation.- Overview of the Subdetonative Ram Accelerator Starting Process.- Diaphragm Rupturing Processes by a Ram Accelerator Projectile.- Numerical Simulation of the Unsteady Processes in Starting Period of Ram Accelerator.- RAMAC 90: Detonation Initiation of Insensitive Dense Methane-Based Mixtures by Normal Shock Waves.- Hypersonic Blunt Body in Chemically Reacting Flows.- Comparison of Numerical Simulations and PLIF Imaging Results of Hypersonic Inert and Reactive Flows Around Blunt Projectiles.- Comparisons of Numerical Methods for the Analysis of Unsteady Shock-Induced Combustion.- On the Detonation Initiation by a Supersonic Sphere.- Experimental Observation of Oblique Detonation Waves Around Hypersonic Free Projectiles.- Numerical Prediction of Envelope Oscillation Phenomena of Shock-Induced Combustion.- Diagnostics.- Experimental Investigation of Ram Accelerator Flow Fields and Combustion Kinetics.- Accelerating Hydrogen/Air Mixtures to Superdetonative Speeds Using an Expansion Tube.- Computational Fluid Dynamics.- Numerical Simulations of Unsteady Ram Accelerator Flow Phenomena.- Numerical Investigation of Ram Accelerator Flow Field in Expansion Tube.- CFD Computations of Steady and Non-reactive Flow Around Fin-Guided Ram Projectiles.- Ignition of a Reactive Gas by Focusing of a Shock Wave.