Focusing and Scattering of Plane Shock Waves at an Interface between Anisotropic Elastic Media

The paper is focused on the problem of constructing evolving fronts of quasilongitudinal and quasitransverse shock waves formed by incidence of an initial plane shock wave on a curvilinear interface between elastic transverse isotropic media with different physical properties. The parameter continuation method and the Newton algorithm are used to solve nonlinear Snell's equations. A method for calculating discontinuities of field functions is proposed. Shockwave scattering and focusing as a particular case of bifurcation of shock fronts and formation of caustics are considered. A numerical example is given.     

Oblique collision of a plane-polarized Alfvén discontinuity and a slow shock wave propagating in opposite directions in magnetohydrodynamics

Collision of plane fronts of a plane-polarized Alfvén discontinuity and a slow shock wave propagating in opposite directions at a certain angle is considered within the framework of an ideal magnetohydrodynamic model. The initial state of an infinitely conducting medium at rest with a frozen-in magnetic field is assumed to be given. Calculations are carried out for various values of the shock wave Mach number and the magnetic field strength using a special software which makes it possible to find an exact solution of the Riemann problem of breakdown of a discontinuity between the states downstream of the interacting waves by means of a computer. The wave flow structure is investigated and a bifurcation map of flow restructuring is constructed. Domains of the initial parameters for which the interaction differs qualitatively are distinguished. The parameters of the medium and magnetic field are found as functions of the angle between the colliding discontinuities and the inclination of the magnetic field. The results obtained may be used in investigations of magnetic reconnection.     

Three-dimensional magnetohydrodynamic description of the process of collision of a solar wind shock wave and the Earth’s bow shock

The propagation of a solar wind shock wave along the surface of the Earth’s bow shock is investigated within the framework of an ideal magnetohydrodynamic model in the three-dimensional non-plane-polarized formulation. The most characteristic values of the solar wind parameters and the interplanetary magnetic field strength are considered for the plane front of a solar wind shock wave moving at various velocities along the Sun-Earth radius. The global three-dimensional pattern of the interaction is constructed as a function of the angle of inclination of the surface of the bow shock to the solar wind velocity and the azimuthal angle along the curve of intersection of the fronts of the interacting shock waves. The evolution of the flow developed in the neighborhood of the bow shock is investigated and the parameters of the medium and magnetic field are calculated.     

Sonic discontinuities in a relaxing gas

Following Elcrat [1] the phenomena associated with the sonic discontinuities in non-equilibrium gasdynamics have been studied here. The sonic wave in non-equilibrium gaseous medium propagates with the frozen speed of sound. The magnitude of discontinuities of the first derivatives of flow quantities in the unsteady flow of relaxing gas are shown to satisfy Riccatti equations along the orthogonal trajectories of surface S(t). In order to integrate them in full generality, they are transformed to an equation along the bicharacteristic curve in the characteristic manifold S(t). These equations have been solved completely. The criteria for decay or blow up of sonic discontinuities are given and the particular cases of plane and spherical waves existing in an ideal dissociative gasdynamics have been discussed. In the case of planewave for uniform propagation, it is shown that the dissociating character of the gas is to decrease the critical time. Other cases of shock formation have been studied in detail.     

The nature of the triple point singularity in the case of stationary reflection of weak shock waves

The structure of flow in the vicinity of a triple point in the problem of stationary irregular reflection of weak shock waves is numerically investigated within the framework of the Euler model, including the von Neumann paradox range. To improve the accuracy of the solution near singular points a new technology including a grid contracted toward the triple point and the discontinuity fitting is applied. It is shown that in the four-wave flow pattern the curvatures of the tangential discontinuity and the Mach front at the triple point are finite. The singularity is concentrated only in a sector between the reflected wave front and the expansion fan. When the three-wave flow pattern is realized, the curvatures of the tangential discontinuity and both wave fronts at the triple point are infinite. On the range of weak and moderate shock waves the logarithmic singularity in subsonic sectors near the triple point conserves up to transition to the regular reflection.     

Magnetohydrodynamic description of the process of collision of a solar wind shock perturbation with the bow shock

The interaction of the solar wind oblique shock wave with the bow shock front ahead of the earth's magnetosphere is considered in an ideal MHD approximation. It is shown that as the impinging shock wave propagates along the bow front, the pattern of the emerging flow is qualitatively and quantitatively modified, being asymmetrical on the flanks. The effect of the interplanetary magnetic field orientation and the obliqueness of the arriving solar wind shock wave on this process is studied. It is shown that sharp nonlinear restructurings may occur, with neighboring, oppositely poled current layers emerging somewhere on the flanks. Alfvén discontinuities and slow waves play a significant part in this process. The emerging current layers may account for the fact that only some solar wind shock waves are geoeffective.     

Evolution of weak shocks in one dimensional planar and non-planar gasdynamic flows

Asymptotic decay laws for planar and non-planar shock waves and the first order associated discontinuities that catch up with the shock from behind are obtained using four different approximation methods. The singular surface theory is used to derive a pair of transport equations for the shock strength and the associated first order discontinuity, which represents the effect of precursor disturbances that overtake the shock from behind. The asymptotic behaviour of both the discontinuities is completely analysed. It is noticed that the decay of a first order discontinuity is much faster than the decay of the shock; indeed, if the amplitude of the accompanying discontinuity is small then the shock decays faster as compared to the case when the amplitude of the first order discontinuity is finite (not necessarily small). It is shown that for a weak shock, the precursor disturbance evolves like an acceleration wave at the leading order. We show that the asymptotic decay laws for weak shocks and the accompanying first order discontinuity are exactly the ones obtained by using the theory of non-linear geometrical optics, the theory of simple waves using Riemann invariants, and the theory of relatively undistorted waves. It follows that the relatively undistorted wave approximation is a consequence of the simple wave formalism using Riemann invariants.     

Some geometric acoustic problems of one-dimensional unsteady and two-dimensional steady flows

The behavior of discontinuities (weak shocks) of the parameters of a disturbed flow and their interaction with the discontinuities of the basic flow in the geometric acoustics approximation, when the variation of the intensity of such shocks along the characteristics or the bicharacteristics is described by ordinary differential equations, has been investigated by many authors. Thus, Keller [1] considered the case when the undisturbed flow is three-dimensional and steady, and the external inputs do not depend on the flow parameters. An analogous study was made by Bazer and Fleischman for the MGD isentropic flow of an ideal conducting medium [2], while Lugovtsov [3] studied the three-dimensional steady flow of a gas of finite conductivity for small magnetic Reynolds numbers and no electric field. Several studies (for example, [4]) have considered the behavior of discontinuities of the solutions from the general positions of the theory of hyperbolic systems of quasilinear equations. Finally, the interaction of weak shocks (or the equivalent continuous disturbances) with shock waves was studied in [5–11].In what follows we consider one-dimensional (with plane, cylindrical, and spherical waves) and quasi-one-dimensional unsteady flows, and also plane and axisymmetric steady flows. Two problems are investigated: the variation of the intensity of weak shocks in the presence of inputs which depend on the stream parameters, and the interaction of weak shocks with strong discontinuities which differ from contact (tangential) discontinuities.The thermodynamic properties of the gas are considered arbitrary. We note that the resulting formulas for the interaction coefficients of the weak and strong discontinuities are also valid for nonequilibrium flow.     

Eulerian formulation of transport equations for three-dimensional shock waves in simple elastic solids

The propagation of a three-dimensional shock wave in an elastic solid is studied. The material is assumed to be a simple elastic solid in which the Cauchy stress depends on the deformation gradient only. It is shown that the growth or decay of a discontinuity ψ depends on (i) an unknown quantity φ^? behind the shock wave, (ii) the two principal curvatures of the shock surface, (iii) the gradient on the shock surface of the shock wave speeds and (iv) the inhomogeneous term which depends on the motion ahead of the shock surface and vanishes when the motion ahead of the shock surface is uniform. If a proper choice is made of the propagation vectorb along which the growth or decay of the discontinuity is measured, the dependence on item (iii) can be avoided. However,b assumes different directions depending on the choice of discontinuity ψ with which one is concerned and the unknown quantity φ^? behind the shock wave on which one chooses to depend. As in the case of one-dimensional shock waves, the growth (or decay) of one discontinuity may not be accompanied by the growth (or decay) of other discontinuities. A universal equation relating the growth or decay of discontinuities in the normal stress, normal velocity and specific volume is also presented.     

Interaction Between a Slow Magnetohydrodynamic Shock Wave and a Tangential Discontinuity

The self-similar problem of the oblique interaction between a slow MHD shock wave and a tangential discontinuity is solved within the framework of the ideal magnetohydrodynamic model. The constraints on the initial parameters necessary for the existence of a regular solution are found. Various feasible wave flow patterns are found in the steady-state coordinate system moving with the line of intersection of the discontinuities. As distinct from the problems of interaction between fast shock waves and other discontinuities, when the incident shock wave is slow the state ahead of it cannot be given and must to be determined in the process of solving the problem. As an example, a flow in which the slow shock wave incident on the tangential discontinuity is generated by an ideally conducting wedge located in the flow is considered. The basic features of the developing flows are determined.     

Focusing of weak shock waves in confined axisymmetric chambers

Theoretical study of a weak shock wave focusing process on a spherical region in confined 3-D axisymmetric chambers is presented. The chambers are elliptic or parabolic in the plane cross-section containing their axis of symmetry. In the elliptic case a spherical shock wave of constant strength generated at one of the focal points will reflect off the chamber wall and converge on a spherical region around the second focus of the chamber. It is shown that the pressure distribution on the converging spherical shock wave is not homogeneous. In the parabolic case two possibilities of shock generation are considered. In the first one a plane shock wave of constant intensity is send in the inner of the chamber. This shock wave with the plane perpendicular to the symmetry axis will after the reflection off the chamber wall transform to a spherical shock with non-homogeneous pressure distribution. Alternatively, a spherical shock of constant intensity generated at the focus of the paraboloidal chamber will after the reflection transform to a plane shock with non-homogeneous pressure distribution propagating in the outer of the chamber. The above mentioned problems are solved within the frame of the geometrical acoustics approximation and the flow fields as well as the non-uniform shock strengths behind the converging wave fronts are calculated.This article was processed using Springer-Verlag T_EX Shock Waves macro package 1.0 and the AMS fonts, developed by the American Mathematical Society.     

Wave propagation in a non-ideal dusty gas

In this paper we have studied the behavior of wave motion as propagating wavelets and their culmination into shock waves in a non-ideal gas with dust particles. In the absence of non-ideal effect the gas satisfies an equation of state of Mie–Gruneisen type. An expansion wave resulting from the action of receding piston is considered and the solutions to this problem showing effects of dust particles and non-idealness are obtained. The propagation of weak waves is considered and the flow variables in the region bounded by the piston and the characteristic wave front are found out. The expansive action of a receding piston undergoing an abrupt change in velocity is discussed. Cases of central expansion fan and shock fronts are studied and the solutions up to first order in the physical plane are obtained. The effects of non-idealness and dust particles are discussed in each case.     

Interference of stationary and non-stationary shock waves

The mathematical model of a gasdynamic discontinuity is used in the area of study concerning gas flows with large gradients of gasdynamic functions. Gasdynamic functions before and after the discontinuity meet non-linear algebraic equations called the dynamic compatibility conditions on the discontinuities. Different modes of shock wave structures forming as a result of regular or irregular interference of the incoming discontinuities of different types are described. Ranges of the initial flow parameters definition such that either shock wave structures of different modes take place or interference equations have no solutions are determined. Most attention is given to arbitrary triple shock-wave configurations. Their classification is proposed. Differential characteristics of the steady flow are studied. The notion “differential characteristics” includes first derivatives of the fundamental gasdynamic parameters with respect to natural coordinates and curvatures of the discontinuities surfaces. Effect of unsteadiness on the triple-shock configuration is examined. Some problems arising at creation of complete local theory of steady and propagating gasdynamic discontinuities interference are formulated.     

Weak discontinuities in a chemically reacting atmosphere

Summary The growth and decay of a weak discontinuity headed by a singular surface of arbitrary shape in three dimensions is investigated in a chemically reacting atmosphere, in the absence of dissipative mechanisms such as viscosity, diffusion and heat conduction. The combined effects of the disequilibrium due to the chemical reaction and a wave front curvature on the propagation of discontinuities have been examined and discussed. It has been observed that the chemical disequilibrium, with its Arrhenius rate dependence, causes the compression wave to steepen more swiftly that it does in an inert atmosphere. The critical values of the initial discontinuity, and time for shock formation, in cases of diverging and converging waves, have been determined.     

Critical distances for the formation of strong discontinuities in fluid-saturated solids

An increase in the stiffness of a solid in compression is known to lead to the steepening of the profiles of compression waves and, as a consequence, to the formation of strong discontinuities from continuous waves propagating in the solid. In this paper, the critical distance required for a continuous wave to turn into a shock wave is calculated from the evolution equation for a weak discontinuity (acceleration wave) propagating into a quiescent region. Infinite growth of the amplitude of an acceleration wave in a finite time signifies the transition to a strong discontinuity. Relations between the critical distances for plane, cylindrical and spherical waves are established. Numerical examples are presented for a particular case of the pressure-dependent stiffness typical of granular solids such as sand or soil, with emphasis placed on the influence of a small amount of free gas in the pore fluid.     

On the jet collision: General model and reduction to the Mie-Grüneisen state equation

We study the stationary direct supersonic collision of jets of condensed materials. We determine the basic flow characteristics: the maximum values of pressure, temperature, and densities on outgoing shock wave fronts and at the wave stagnation and penetration points. To this end, just as in the Lavrentiev problem about the jet collision in the framework of an incompressible fluid model, it suffices to consider the flow only along the central streamline, i.e., the symmetry axis. We consider the general caloric (incomplete) equation of state and, to close the thermodynamic construction and determine the temperature dependence on the state parameters, supplement them with thermodynamic identities. We also consider the conditions on discontinuities, the Bernoulli integrals, i.e., the conservation laws, to relate the states behind the wave front and the stagnation point, and the continuity conditions at this point. Just as in the collision problem for jets of incompressible fluid, we neglect the strength, viscosity, and heat conduction. As a result, we construct a mathematical model, i.e., a system of 12 integro-algebraic equations, and propose a semi-inverse solution method, in which the system splits into separate equations. In the special case of the Mie-Grüneisen state equation, the system becomes much simpler. We perform computations and construct the dependence of maximal pressures and temperatures on the impact velocity in the range 1–20 km/s for many pairs of materials of the colliding jets. We also compare the results with the solution obtained according to the incompressible fluid model.     

Mass,momentum and total excess energy transported by a weak planeN wave

A weakly nonlinear plane acoustic wave is emitted into an ideal gas of semi-infinite extent from an infinite plate by its sinusoidal motion of single period. The wave develops into anN wave in the far field, as long as the energy dissipation is negligible everywhere except for discontinuous shock fronts. The third-order effects at shock fronts are evaluated, i.e., the generation of reflected acoustic wave as a result of the interaction of shock and expansion wave and the production of entropy by the energy dissipation at shock fronts. Consideration of these effects enables one to estimate the whole mass, momentum and total excess energy (sum of the kinetic energy and excess of internal energy over an initial undisturbed value) transported by theN wave to the accuracy of third order of wave amplitude. It is shown that the mass and total excess energy transported by theN wave increase and the momentum decreases to asymptotic limits as the wave propagates. The result shows good agreement with a numerical result obtained by solving the Euler equations with a high-resolution TVD upwind scheme.     

Decay of a plane shock wave in a two-parameter medium with arbitrary equation of state

Special curves, called shock polars, are frequently used to determine the state of the gas behind an oblique shock wave from known parameters of the oncoming flow. For a perfect gas, these curves have been constructed and investigated in detail [1]. However, for the solution of problems associated with gas flow at high velocities and high temperatures it is necessary to use models of gases with complicated equations of state. It is therefore of interest to study the properties of oblique shocks in such media. In the present paper, a study is made of the form of the shock polars for two-parameter media with arbitrary equation of state, these satisfying the conditions of Cemplen's theorem. Some properties of oblique shocks in such media that are new compared with a perfect gas are established. On the basis of the obtained results, the existence of triple configurations in steady supersonic flows obtained by the decay of plane shock waves is considered. It is shown that D'yakov-unstable discontinuities decompose into an oblique shock and a centered rarefaction wave, while spontaneously radiating discontinuities decompose into two shocks or into a shock and a rarefaction wave.Translated from Izvestiya Akademii Nauk SSSR, Mekhanika Zhidkosti i Gaza, No. 6, pp. 147–153, November–December, 1982.