Analysis of shock-wave diffraction over double cylindrical wedges. Part II: Vorticity generation

Abstract

The unsteady aspect of turbulent flow structures generated by a shock-wave diffraction over double cylindrical wedges, with initial diffracting angle of ∘ 75 , are numerically investigated by means of two-dimensional highfidelity numerical simulation. Different incident-shock-Mach numbers, ranging from transonic to supersonic regimes, are considered. Unlike previous studies where only the total vorticity production is evaluated, the current paper offers more insights into the spatio-temporal behavior of the circulation by evaluating the evolution of the instantaneous vorticity equation balance. The results show, for the first time, that the diffusion of the vorticity due to the viscous effects is quite important compared to the baroclinic term for low Mach numbers regimes, while this trend is inverted for higher Mach numbers regimes. It is also found that the stretching of the vorticity due to the compressibility effects plays an important role in the vorticity production. In terms of pressure impulses, the effect of the first concave surface on the shock strength has been quantified at both earlier and final stages of the shock diffraction process. Unlike the overpressure, the static and the dynamic pressure impulses are shown to be significantly reduced at the end of the first concave surface.

Computational study of shock diffraction over convex edges

“…Whereas, in DTP, the first Mach Stem becomes the incident shock for the second detached reflection. Brahmi et al [16] showed that for low Mach numbers, viscosity plays an important role in the diffusion of the vorticity as compared to the baroclinic term, while this is the opposite for higher Mach number cases. The unsteady separation behind diffracted shock over convex curved walls was experimentally and numerically investigated at large lengths and time scales by Law et al [17].…”