Self-similar hypervelocity shock interactions with oblique contact discontinuities

R. Samtaney*, D. I. Pullin

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

2 Scopus citations

Abstract

The two-dimensional inviscid refraction of a shock wave at an oblique contact discontinuity is self-similar; i.e. it depends only upon the variables ξ ≡ x/t, η ≡ y/t. We transform the compressible Euler equations into the self-similar (ξ, η) coordinates and solve the resulting boundary-value problem by an implicit equilibrium flux method. We present results for strong shock (M ≥ 10 where M is the incident shock Mach number) interactions with an oblique contact discontinuity separating an inert gas from a gas which exhibits high-temperature gas chemistry effects. To model high-temperature effects we employ Lighthill's ideal dissociating gas (IDG) model. Comparison between the frozen and equilibrium limits, both of which are self-similar, indicate large changes in peak density and temperatures. Significant differences in the overall flow pattern between the frozen and equilibrium limits are observed for interfaces with low negative Atwood ratio and high positive Atwood ratio. Results from a local analysis are presented when the shock refraction is regular. The critical angle at which the transition from regular to irregular refraction occurs is slightly larger for the equilibrium chemistry case.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)299-310
Number of pages12
JournalShock Waves
Volume8
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - 1998
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Ideal dissociating gas
  • Self-similar flow
  • Shock-wave refraction

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Mechanical Engineering
  • General Physics and Astronomy

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