Shock-tube experiments on the stability of regular reflection in the dual-solution domain

Regular reflection (RR) and Mach reflection (MR) are theoretically both possible in the dual-solution domain of oblique shock reflection. The physical difference between the two types of reflection is the pressure behind the reflected shock wave: that of MR is lower than that of RR for strong shock reflection. The magnitude relation of these pressures is inverted for weak shock reflection. In the present paper, we performed two kinds of experiment, depending on whether the oblique shock reflection is weak or strong. For strong shock reflection, we decreased the pressure behind the reflected wave of RR using a convex double-wedge. For weak shock reflection, we increased this pressure using a concave double-wedge. Thus, we investigated the stability of RR against pressure disturbances. The results indicate that RR in a shock tube is stable, in the dual-solution domain, for both weak and strong incident shocks.