Observation and analysis of the Mach reflection of weak uniform plane shock waves. Part 1. Observations

Abstract

Shock fronts and fluid-particle trajectories throughout a two-dimensional shock wave flow have been measured by multiple schlieren photography in a detailed study of the Mach reflection from a 10° wedge of plane uniform shocks with Mach numbers of 1.105, 1.240 and 1.415. Correction of optical distortions throughout the field of view permitted the positions and shapes of the shock fronts and the magnitudes and directions of the particle velocities to be measured with a high degree of accuracy. No departure from self-similarity of the flow fields could be detected. The cross-sections of the reflected shocks were found to be circular and centred on a point which moved with the velocity of the flow behind the incident shock. The triple-point trajectories were linear. The velocity of the curved Mach stem shock was found to be constant at any one height above the wedge surface and to decrease monotonically with height. A deviation from perpendicularity was noticed where the Mach stems met the surface of the wedge, the shocks having a slight forward inclination of as much as 1°. The experimental results cannot be completely explained using the classical three-shock theory and an alternative model for weak Mach reflection is developed in Part 2 of this paper.