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The decay of a plane shock wave

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 March 2006

H. Ardavan-Rhad
H. Ardavan-Rhad
Affiliation:
Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics, University of Cambridge
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Abstract

An analytic solution of the non-isentropic equations of gas-dynamics, for the one-dimensional motion of a non-viscous and non-conductive medium, is derived in this paper for the first time. This is a particular solution which contains only one arbitrary function. On the basis of this solution, the interaction of a centred simple wave with a shock of moderate strength is analyzed; and it is shown that, for a weak shock, this analysis is compatible with Friedrichs's theory. Furthermore, in the light of this analysis, it is explained why the empirical methods employed by the shock-expansion theory, including Whitham's rule for determining the shock path, work.

Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Fluid Mechanics , Volume 43 , Issue 4 , 2 October 1970 , pp. 737 - 751
Copyright
© 1970 Cambridge University Press

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References

Ardavan-Rhad, H. 1969 Dynamics of cosmic explosions. Ph.D. thesis, University of Cambridge.
Courant, R. & Friedrichs, K. O. 1948 Supersonic Flow and Shock Waves. New York: Interscience.
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