On the use of a low velocity oxygen-fueled (L-VOF) gun to simulate sustained hypersonic flight conditions

Abstract This research deals with an innovative Blowdown-Induction System powered by a Low Velocity Oxygen-Fueled (L-VOF) gun; the system has been designed and built to mimic various flow scenarios related to sustained hypersonic flight. The fundamental concepts behind the facility are thoroughly examined, followed by a detailed discussion of its individual subsystems, their interrelations, and the methods developed to address specific technical challenges inherent to its design. The performances of the system are then assessed through prototype applications; in particular, evidence is provided that, in the cold flow case, the plant can achieve pressures high enough to create supersonic flow by directly drawing air from the surrounding environment. Notably, under heated flow conditions, the same system can consistently generate pressures sufficient for supersonic speeds, yielding Mach numbers close to those observed in the cold flow experiments. The heated tests involve significantly higher energy levels, closely resembling the intense thermal conditions typical of hypersonic flight.