Design and Characterization of the Energy Matter Interaction Tunnel

A new hypersonic energy matter interaction tunnel (EMIT), a blow-down wind tunnel focused on materials testing, was recently brought to operational status at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. The facility was designed for high-throughput testing with turn-around times on the order of 30 minutes and run times up to a minute in duration to obtain statistically relevant measurements. The current operational range for the tunnel includes Mach 3 and Mach 5 via interchangeable nozzles. The facility was designed with a high-power fiber laser heating source integrated into the system to obtain flight-relevant material temperatures and conditions. Designed for enhancing understanding of material response, the facility can accommodate an array of material types. Experimental methods such as Pitot pressure measurements and high-speed schlieren imaging were employed to characterize the flow and test times. The facility was designed with ample optical access to support developing and deploying multiple optical diagnostics in concert. A summary of the facility and its characterization are presented.