Propagation of shock waves in free space

The problem of the exit of a shock wave from an axisymmetric channel and its propagation in a free space occupied by an ideal gas is examined. This problem has been studied earlier in [1], in which the shock wave front was considered planar, as well as in [2], in which the wave front was regarded as a surface of an ellipsoid of revolution. The solutions obtained in these studies assumed the presence of two regions in the wave-front surface: the region of the original shock wave and a region stemming from the decomposition of an infinitesimally thin annular discontinuity of the gas parameters, with the wave intensity over the front surface in each region being considered constant, i.e., the wave character of the process over the front was not considered. In this study a solution will be achieved by the method of characteristics [3–5] of the equations of motion of the shock-wave front, as obtained in [6, 7]. Flow fields are determined for the region immediately adjacent to the shock-wave front for a wide range of shock-wave Mach numbers M_a=1.6–20.0 for = 1.4. On the basis of the data obtained, by introduction of variables connected with the length of the undisturbed zone, as calculated from the channel cross-section along the x axis, together with the pressure transition at the wave front, relationships are proposed which approach self-similarity.Translated from Izvestiya Akademii Nauk SSSR, Mekhanika Zhidkosti i Gaza, No. 5, pp. 163–166, September–October, 1971.In conclusion, the author thanks S. S. Semenov for his valuable advice on this study.