Radulescu Gasdynamics Laboratory

Influence of Porosity on the Flame Speed inGasless Bimetallic Reactive Systems by Hesam Akbarnejad Self-propagating High-temperature Synthesis ( SHS ) is the synthesis of solid materials by a reaction wave propagating into the initial reactants, typically two metals, which can alloy exothermically . Typically, experiments are performed with the reactants in powder form, with relatively low density. Recent experiments by Bacciochini et al. revealed much larger flame speeds in densified powders near TMD, obtained by the cold spray process. The present thesis investigates why the flame speed increases dramatically with an increase in density of the powders. The investigation rests on the analytical model formulated by Makino by controlling how the variables are affected by changes in density. Flame speed measurements were performed in mixtures of nickel (Ni) and aluminum (Al) at different initial densities. The density was varied by controlling the cold-pressing of the s...