Investigations of Mach Reflection of a Shock Wave : Part 1, Configurations and Domains of Shock Reflection

When a plane moving shock wave encounters an inclined wall, it is reflected by the wall. In these reflection problems, four different types of reflection have been observed in previous shock tube experiments. Namely, they are regular reflection, single-Mach, complex-Mach, and double-Mach reflections. However, in regard to these reflections, there are many questions which are not yet resolved. In the present study, the reflection phenomena of the shock waves have been investigated experimentally over a wide range of incident shock Mach numbers and wedge angles using air or chlorofluoro-carbon (Freon-12), as a working gas. In the experiment using Freon-12, a new type of reflection which cannot be classified into any one of the above four types has been observed. The domains where these five types of reflection can occur and the transition boundaries from one type of reflection to another have been discussed.