Experiments on transition of Mach reflexion

Abstract

Detailed experimental data are presented on the transition between regular and Mach reflexion. Data have been obtained for steady, pseudo-steady and un-steady flows, and include a study of the continuous and discontinuous transitions predicted by previous researchers. It is found that the criterion often used to calculate the transition condition is wrong in every case that we have investigated. In its place we propose an alternative criterion which has the property that the system remains always in mechanical equilibrium during transition.

An Interferometric Investigation of the Regular to Mach Reflection Transition Boundary in Pseudostationary Flow in Air.

“…In the same study, Henderson and Lozzi [12] also offered the 'mechanical equilibrium' criterion for transition from RR to MR in nonstationary flows.…”

“…Gvozdeva et al [11] and Henderson and Lozzi [12] suggested criteria for the transition from SMR to CMR, and CMR to DMR but they were not substantiated.…”

“…In SMR, unlike CMR and DMR, the reflected shock R is continuously curved from the triple point T to the wedge corner since the flow in region 2 is subsonic relative to T. Figure 10 shows a schematic diagram of CMR, which differs from SMR due to the appearance of a kink K in the reflected shock. The kink arises from a band of compression waves which converge on to the reflected shock at K [12].…”

“…The 'mechanical equilibrium' criterion, which was proposed by Henderson and Lozzi [12], is shown in Fig. 12 for frozen air-, They investigated the RR-'-HR transition boundary in unsteady flow by reflecting shock waves from concave and convex wedge surfaces.…”

Non-uniqueness of solutions in asymptotically self-similar shock reflections

“…This overlap has been observed in both steady and pseudosteady flows. Much attention has been devoted to the many types of reflection configurations, the conditions under which they occur, and which factors favour the appearance of one type over another, especially under conditions where both regular and Mach reflections are possible solutions [3][4][5][6].…”