On the Flame-Generated Turbulence of Highly-Turbulent Fast Flames

The work explores the flame-generated turbulence production in highly-turbulent fast flames. Burning speeds of fast compressible flames are on the order of the Chapman–Jouguet deflagration velocity, which results in strong compressions forming ahead of the flame. Such compressible regimes result in the interactions of pressure-density gradients leading to baroclinicity-driven turbulence production. A Turbulent Shock Tube (TST) facility is used to explore the complex local reacting flow-field dynamics of these fast flames capable of transitioning to a detonation. In the current work, fast deflagrated flames are observed interacting with high levels of isotropic turbulence. Advanced diagnostics including high-speed Particle Image Velocimetry, high-speed OH chemiluminescence, and dynamic pressure transducers capture the evolution of the turbulence and compressibility dynamics. The analysis expands on the criterion for turbulence-driven DDT and validate existing computational DNS simulations.