An analysis of oblique and normal detonation waves

Abstract

Plane detonation waves are analysed, on the assumption that the ratio of specific heats and the molecular weight are constants. Heat release is quoted in terms of a dimensionless parameter F, such that, for Chapman-Jouguet detonatioris F = 1, for any strong detonation 1 < F < 2, and for shock waves F = 2. Wave properties are shown to be functions either ofheat release and the component of upstream Mach number normal to the wave, or of heat release and both normal and streamwise components of upstream Mach number. The expressions can be used to generalise existing R.A.E. computer programmes for flows with two-dimensional or axisymmetric shock waves; they thus allow computation of two-dimensional or axisymmetric flow fields formed between a body and a detonation wave.