Date of Award
Fall 12-2011
Degree Type
Dissertation-Restricted
Degree Name
Ph.D.
Degree Program
Engineering and Applied Science
Department
Physics
Major Professor
Ashok Puri
Abstract
In this dissertation, the evolution of a pressure wave driven by a harmonic signal on the boundary during gas combustion is studied. The problem is modeled by a nonlinear, hyperbolic partial differential equation. Steady-state behavior is investigated using the perturbation method to ensure that enough time has passed for any transient effects to have dissipated. The zeroth, first and second-order perturbation solutions are obtained and their moduli are plotted against frequency. It is seen that the first and second-order corrections have unique maxima that shift to the right as the frequency decreases and to the left as the frequency increases. Dispersion relations are determined and their limiting behavior investigated in the low and high frequency regimes. It is seen that for low frequencies, the medium assumes a diffusive-like nature. However, for high frequencies the medium behaves similarly to one exhibiting relaxation. The phase speed is determined and its limiting behavior examined. For low frequencies, the phase speed is approximately equal to sqrt[ω/(n+1)] and for high frequencies, it behaves as 1/(n+1), where n is the mode number. Additionally, a maximum allowable value of the perturbation parameter, ε = 0.8, is determined that ensures boundedness of the solution. The location of the peak of the first-order correction, xmax, as a function of frequency is determined and is seen to approach the limiting value of 0.828/sqrt(ω) as the frequency tends to zero and the constant value of 2 ln 2 as the frequency tends to infinity. Analytic expressions are obtained for the approximate general perturbation solution in the low and high-frequency regimes and are plotted together with the perturbation solution in the corresponding frequency regimes, where the agreement is seen to be excellent. Finally, the solution obtained from the perturbation method is compared with the long-time solution obtained by the finite-difference scheme; again, ensuring that the transient effects have dissipated. Since the finite-difference scheme requires a right boundary, its location is chosen so that the wave dissipates in amplitude enough so that any reflections from the boundary will be negligible. The perturbation solution and the finite-difference solution are found to be in excellent agreement. Thus, the validity of the perturbation method is established.
Recommended Citation
Eslick, John, "A Dynamical Study of the Evolution of Pressure Waves Propagating through a Semi-Infinite Region of Homogeneous Gas Combustion Subject to a Time-Harmonic Signal at the Boundary" (2011). University of New Orleans Theses and Dissertations. 1367.
https://scholarworks.uno.edu/td/1367
Included in
Non-linear Dynamics Commons, Numerical Analysis and Computation Commons, Partial Differential Equations Commons
Rights
The University of New Orleans and its agents retain the non-exclusive license to archive and make accessible this dissertation or thesis in whole or in part in all forms of media, now or hereafter known. The author retains all other ownership rights to the copyright of the thesis or dissertation.