The design and construction of a free surface water table for the investigation of compressible-flow phenomena

The purpose of this thesis project was to design and construct a free surface water table for the investigation of compressible-flow phenomena.

Although the design range of operation of the water table was to include all desired analogous Mach numbers between 0.40 and 7.00, the range of operation was limited by the formation of unwanted waves at the entrance section. With the application of elastic glazing compound to provide a rounded entrance and with the addition of a wetting agent to reduce the surface tension of the water, the water table performed satisfactorily at analogous Mach numbers between 0.40 and 4.00. The test section depth could not be easily varied because it was necessary to fill the grooves of the gate guides, with elastic glazing compound, for each gate opening. Except for the entrance section, very satisfactory performance was attained with all the components of the water table.

Satisfactory performance of the water table was verified by the flow photographs and the results of the representative tests.