The effect of porosity on shock interaction with a rigid, porous barrier

This work investigates the pressure amplification experienced behind a rigid, porous barrier that is exposed to a planar shock. Numerical simulations are performed in two dimensions using the full Navier–Stokes equations for a M = 1.3 incoming shock wave. An array of cylinders is positioned at some distance from a solid wall and the shock wave is allowed to propagate past the barrier and reflect off the wall. Pressure at the wall is recorded and the flowfield is examined using numerical schlieren images. This work is intended to provide insight into the interaction of a shock wave with a cloth barrier shielding a solid boundary, and therefore the Reynolds number is small (i.e., Re = 500 to 2000). Additionally, the effect of porosity of the barrier is examined. While the pressure plots display no distinct trend based on Reynolds number, the porosity has a marked effect on the flowfield structure and endwall pressure, with the pressure increasing as porosity decreases until a maximum value is reached.