The method of characteristics for steady supersonic rotational flow in three dimensions

Abstract

The method of characteristics for steady supersonic flow problems in three dimensions, due to Coburn & Dolph (1949), is extended so that flow with shocks and entropy changes may be treated. Equations of motion based on Coburn & Dolph's characteristic coordinate system are derived and a scheme is described for solving these by finite differences.A linearized method of characteristics is developed for calculating perturbations of a given three-dimensional field of flow. This is a generalization of the method evolved by Ferri (1952) for perturbations of plane flow and conical flow.