On Converging Shock Waves

Abstract

An approximate theory of shock dynamics is used to study the behaviour of converging cylindrical shocks. For cylindrical shocks with regular polygonal-shaped cross sections, exact solutions are found, showing that an original polygonal shape repeats at successive intervals with successive contractions in scale. In this sense, these shapes are stable, and the successive Mach numbers increase according to exactly the same formula as for a circular cylindrical shock. The behaviour for initial shock shapes close to these and the general tendency of perturbed circular shapes to become polygonal, not necessarily regular, is explored numerically. Further analytical results are provided for rectangular shapes. Comments are made on the interpretation of regular reflection in this theory and on converging shocks in three dimensions.