Transition from combustion to detonation in a gaseous hydrocarbon-air mixture

The transition of slow combustion of a hydrocarbon–air mixture to self-sustaining detonation is investigated experimentally in a model tube with the mixture ignited at the closed end. Various mechanisms of the onset of detonation are discussed, along with the transition of the resulting strong detonation to self-sustainment. The influence of a mechanical obstacle placed at the end of the transition zone on the stabilization of the detonation starting point and the shortening of the transition length is investigated.