Nozzle Flow Characterization of the SNU Hypersonic Shock Tunnel

Abstract This paper presents the operational capabilities and the characteristics of the nozzle flow of the Seoul National University Hypersonic Shock Tunnel (SHyST), a recently added impulse facility designed to produce high-enthalpy flows reaching up to 5 MJ/kg through hypersonic contoured nozzles. Within this investigation, emphasis is placed on the design and utilization of a pitot rake, serving as an essential instrument for quantifying pitot pressure and Mach number distributions throughout the test section. The experimental results confirm the presence of axis-symmetric behavior and spatial–temporal uniformity of the freestream Mach number at the nozzle outlet and along the test section. In addition, the study demonstrates a good agreement with the predictions of numerical simulation. Mach number validation is further supported by the measurement of shock standoff distance through schlieren visualization.