Numerical and theoretical analysis of shock wave interactions with abrupt area changes
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Wave propagation in channels with area changes is a topic of significant practical interest that involves a rich set of coupled physics. While the acoustic wave problem has been studied extensively, the shock propagation problem has received less attention. In addition to its practical significance, this problem also introduces deep fundamental issues associated with how energy in propagating large-amplitude disturbances is redistributed upon interaction with inhomogeneities. This paper presents a study of shock scattering and entropy and vorticity coupling for shock wave propagation through discrete area changes. It compares results from computational fluid dynamics to those of one-dimensional quasi-steady calculations. The solution space is naturally divided into five ‘regimes’ based upon the incident shock strength and area ratio. This paper also presents perturbation methods to quantify the dimensionless scaling of physical effects associated with wave reflection/transmission and energy transfer to other disturbances. Finally, it presents an analysis of the ‘energetics’ of the interaction, quantifying how energy that initially resides in dilatational disturbances and propagates at the shock speed is redistributed into finite-amplitude reflected and transmitted waves as well as convecting vortical and entropy disturbances.
Source: Journal of Fluid Mechanics
DOI: 10.1017/jfm.2025.38
Authors: Trevor Kickliter, Vishal Acharya, Tim Lieuwen
Institution: Georgia Institute of Technology
Language: English
Subfield: Computational Mechanics
Field: Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $3,550
Award: G5344320701
OpenAlex ID: W4408464165