Published online by Cambridge University Press: 04 July 2016
Ghosh's large-deflection hypersonic similitude and piston theory for plane flows have been extended to axisymmetric flows: a new piston motion in conico-annular space as an extension to Sedov's axisymmetric piston has been proposed and a set of ordinary differential equation for 1-D unsteady motion obtained. Wedge and cone flow solutions are obtained without the constant-density assumption of the earlier theory; the pressure ratio is expressed as a closed form function of the similarity parameter whereas the previous constant density theory gave an iterative procedure. The present theory unifies small disturbance theory and constant density theory.