Measuring Rotating Detonation Combustion Using Cross-Correlation

The cyclic propagation of detonation waves in the Rotating Detonation Combustor (RDC) make it an ideal candidate for using the cross-correlation technique. However, the potential for complicated operating modes combined with difficult diagnostic access introduces the possibility for ambiguous outcomes of the analysis. This work will first consider the specific details of the application of the technique to analyzing the features of RDC operation, including wave speed, direction, and operating mode. The accuracy and limitations of the technique will be quantified from a theoretical perspective. The second half of the work will focus on several example run conditions and operating modes in the RDC and will highlight differences in the analysis of variable combustion modes. From these cases studies, it is clear that a great deal of insight on the operation can be gleaned from analyzing the correlation. However, care must be taken in the experimental setup and analysis as a poorly designed approach can easily yield deceptive results. Finally, guidelines for preparing the experiment and conducting the analysis are provided to improve the quality of the results.