Shock tube flow nonuniformity is investigated in the limit where the shock and contact surface have reached their maximum separation. Ideal gases are considered. It is found that all fluid properties increase in value between the shock and contact surface. The nonuniformity is greatest when gamma (ratio of specific heats) is large and M sub s (shock Mach number) is low. For gamma = 5/3 and M sub s> or = 3, the static temperature, density, and pressure increase by about 8, 12 and 20%, respectively; the stagnation temperature increases by about 35%, and the stagnation pressure, dynamic pressure, and stagnation point heat transfer increase by about a factor of 2. These results apply to turbulent as well as laminar boundary layers. The variation of flow properties with distance behind the shock, as well as particle time of flight, is given for both wholly laminar and wholly turbulent wall boundary layers. These results are particularly important for chemical rate and heat transfer studies. (Author).

This volume contains the proceedings of a symposium held at the University of Toronto in June 1969. The symposium consisted of six sessions; each containing an invited paper, followed by six contributed papers reporting on recent, relevant research and development. The topics are: a review of research problems in basic shock tube flows and the possibilities for the shock tube in the future; driving techniques; explosive drivers; theoretical and experimental research in electromagnetic shock tubes; chemical kinetics and spectroscopy; and a review of shock tube diagnostics, instrumentation and fundamental data as well as the measurement of physical quantities.

Shock tube test time limitation due to the premature arrival of the contact surface is analytically investigated for wholly turbulent wall boundary layers. The results are compared with those for wholly laminar wall boundary layers. Working curves are presented for more accurate estimates of test time in specific cases. (Author) -- NTRL website.

The symposia take place every two years. They are the forum at which scientists concerned with shock waves present their research. They USE shock waves for chemical kinetics studies, for materials studies, and smashing kidney stones; they STUDY the phenomena associated with flows involving shock waves, such as supersonic flow, explosions, detonations, volcanic eruptions, and, in this symposium, even such with-it topics as impact of Shoemaker-Levy on Jupiter and blast waves in the World Trade Center. They also discover new, bigger and better ways of generating flows at hypervelocity speeds and develop their technological tools further.The international exchange of information is documented in the proceedings volumes, which have become a storehouse of information on the subject, documenting the history of this peculiar branch of science that involves chemists, physicists, engineers, geophysicists, material scientists and biologists.