The Mach reflection of shock waves in converging,cylindrical channels

Shock waves impinging on axisymmetric converging passages of moderate wall angle undergo cyclical Mach reflection processes which are generally not self-similar during progression through the contraction. This paper presents the results of shock tube experiments in air where shocks of moderate strength are incident on cones having a range of wall angles of 10° to 30°. Mach reflection is maintained as the dominant reflection process throughout this range but the number of cycles decreases as wall angle increases. A ray-shock approach, used to calculate the triple-point trajectories gives good agreement with the experimental locations of their intersections with the centreline and wall.