Pressure waves in a separated gas-liquid layer in a horizontal duct with a step

Pressure wave propagation into a separated gas-liquid layer in a horizontal duct with a step is investigated analytically. The linear solution is derived assuming a large density ratio of liquid to gas. The solution can be found first for the gas layer and then for the liquid layer. The linear wave in a liquid layer is valid even for fairly large initial pressure ratios, and clearly exhibits the dispersive characteristics of the pressure wave in a liquid layer. As the initial pressure ratio is increased, the pressure wave in the gas layer becomes a shock wave. Thus, its effect on the wave in a liquid layer can be found analytically by modifying the boundary condition in part. The wave in a liquid layer consists of a main wave, which propagates with the shock speed in gas, and a precursor wave, whose front propagates with the speed of sound in liquid. The precursor wave has an oscillatory structure; its amplitude increases with increasing shock strength and also with liquid layer thickness.