Interaction of shock waves during the passage of a disrupted meteoroid through the atmosphere

The motion of fragments following disintegration of a meteoroid during its flight through the Earth's atmosphere is investiated. Shock wave configurations, aerodynamical forces and moments acting on each fragment and the trajectories of the pieces are determined for hypothetical initial configurations. The results of numerical simulations show that a meteoroid's breakup may lead to both increase and decrease of the total cross section, drag forces and energy release in the atmosphere. As a consequence the emitted radiation varies.