Characteristic solution of a weak wave problem in gaseous flows at very high temperature

Abstract

The propagation of a weak discontinuity has been studied along the characteristic path by using the characteristics of the governing quasi-linear hyperbolic system as reference coordinate system. The characteristic solution for the time-dependent amplitude of a weak wave has been obtained and the critical time for the breakdown of characteristic solution has been determined. It is shown that all compressive waves will grow and terminate into shock waves, while all expansion waves will decay out. © 1986 with the authors.