Analytical and experimental insights into fast deflagrations, detonations, and the deflagration-to-detonation transition process

The present paper reports on experimentally as well as analytically obtained results of fast propagating deflagrations, the deflagration-to-detonation transition process, and detonations. Due to the high propagation velocity of these highly transient combustion waves, experimental data were mainly achieved by means of conventional measuring devices in past. These data were used to develop analytical models describing the physical processes of these fast combustion waves. Due to the progress in the development of new laser-optical measuring-techniques, detailed insight into these combustion waves can nowadays be achieved. These measuring-techniques facilitate the validation of analytical models and, furthermore, it is now possible to understand the physical processes of these fast combustion waves. This paper describes the analytical models proposed by Mayinger et al. and new experimental results obtained by means of the color-schlieren technique and the laser-induced predissociation fluorescence.