Shock instability in dissipative gases

Details Shock instability in dissipative gases Shock instability in dissipative gases

2011-08-16

arxiv.org/abs/1108.3296v2

Nonlinear Sciences

Pattern Formation and Solitons

Scientific paper

Previous experiments have revealed that shock waves in thermally relaxing gases, such as ionizing, dissociating and vibrationally excited gases, can become unstable. To date, the mechanism controlling this instability has not been resolved. Previous accounts of the D'yakov-Kontorovich instability, and Bethe-Zel'dovich-Thompson behaviour could not predict the experimentally observed instability. To address the mechanism controlling the instability, we study the propagation of shock waves in a simple two-dimensional dissipative hard disk molecular model. To account for the energy relaxation from translational degrees of freedom to higher modes within the shock wave structure, we allow inelastic collisions above an activation threshold. When the medium allows finite dissipation, we find that the shock waves are unstable and form distinctive high density non-uniformities and convective rolls on their surface. Using analytical and numerical results for the shock Hugoniot, we show that both DK and BZT instabilities can be ruled out. Instead, the results suggest that the clustering instability of Goldhirsch and Zanetti in dissipative gases is the dominant mechanism.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Shock instability in dissipative gases does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with Shock instability in dissipative gases, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Shock instability in dissipative gases will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-196402