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Published December 2008 | public
Journal Article

On the question of universality of imploding shock waves

Abstract

For the case of initially infinitesimally weak spherically and cylindrically imploding shocks, Ponchaut et al. (J. Fluid Mech., 560: 102-122, 2006) recently obtained universal solutions. We study the effect of starting the shock with an initially finite strength on the trajectory of the shock by performing numerical calculations for the incoming shock imploding spherically into a diatomic perfect gas. Deviations from the universal solution are extremely small. A solution for the initially infinitesimally weak shock obtained by using Whitham's (Linear and nonlinear waves, Wiley, New York, 1974) Shock Dynamics is virtually indistinguishable from the Ponchaut solution.

Additional Information

© Springer-Verlag 2008. Received: 9 March 2008. Revised: 27 March 2008. Published online: 5 August 2008. Although Professor Schneider's extensive contributions include elements of experimental work, he is himself primarily an inspiring theoretical fluid mechanicist, from whom we have learned a lot. It is therefore fitting that we honor him at his anniversary with this theoretical contribution. Dedicated to Professor Wilhelm Schneider on the occasion of his 70th birthday.

Additional details

Created:
August 20, 2023
Modified:
March 5, 2024