High Enthalpy Gas Dynamics

This is an introductory level textbook which explains the elements of high temperature and high-speed gas dynamics. Readers will gain an understanding how the thermodynamic and transport properties of high temperature gas are determined from a microscopic viewpoint of the molecular gas dynamics, and how such properties affect the flow features, the shock waves and the nozzle flows, from a macroscopic viewpoint. In addition, the experimental facilities for the study on the high enthalpy flows are described in a concise and easy-to-understand style. Practical examples are given throughout emphasizing the application of the theory discussed.  Each chapter ends with exercises/problems and solutions to enhance the learning experience.

 The book begins with the basics about enthalpy, its nature and difference with internal energy and its relationship to heat.  Subsequent sections in the chapter on the Basics cover the essence of the gas dynamics of perfect gas, covering all aspects of the theory, which assumes the specific heats of the gas as constants and independent of temperature.  The chapter on Thermodynamics of Fluid Flow reviews the concept of energy which plays an important role in both high temperature flows and perfect gas flows.  The chapter on Wave Propagation describes the waves, namely the Mach waves, compression waves and expansion waves, which prevail in all gas dynamic streams.  The chapter on High Temperature Flows begins with the discussion on the difference between the perfect gas flow and high temperature flow, and proceeds to the importance of high-enthalpy flows covering the nature of high-enthalpy flows, most probable macro state, Bose-Einstein and Fermi-Dirac statistics, Boltzmann distribution, evaluation of thermodynamic properties and partition function, covering the various aspects of high-enthalpy flows with shocks.  The final chapter on High Enthalpy Facilities describes the devices to provide hypersonic airflows at high enthalpy and high-pressure total conditions.