Design, Realization, and Application of an Ultra-High-Speed Shock Tube for Middle-Ear Mechanics

Perkoski, John Joseph; Walsh, Jessica Catherine; Frank, Eli Wonnacott; Roberge, Jacquelyn Yvette

Student Work

Design, Realization, and Application of an Ultra-High-Speed Shock Tube for Middle-Ear Mechanics

Public

WPI researchers and Massachusetts Eye and Ear are currently conducting novel research on the fracture mechanics of the Tympanic Membrane (TM) in real-time through high-speed optical techniques. We designed, constructed, and characterized an ultra-high-speed shock tube to produce controlled acoustic shock waves, enabling accurate and repeatable investigations on the mechanics of the TM at high loading rates. Rankine-Hugoniot relations and computational fluid dynamics were used to predict the device behavior, and a series of high-frequency pressure sensors confirmed these computational results. High-speed cameras were incorporated with Schlieren photography methods to image and analyze the produced shock fronts. The developed apparatus was validated through rupture tests on actual human TMs.

This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

Publisher