Gasdynamics and shock dynamics of weak shock waves

Experiments in weak-shock dynamics were conducted using a 17-in. diameter shock tube. Weak shocks were generated in air by a compressed nitrogen driver gas; the incident shock waves were brought to a focus by reflecting them from concave cylindrical reflectors at the endwall of the tube. It was found that the behavior of a shock discontinuity at a focus is determined by nonlinear gasdynamic processes. Consideration is also given to nonlinear resonance phenomena, i.e., phenomena associated with oscillatory motion in ducts, with amplitude so large that weak shocks occur. Attention is given to nonlinear resonance in open and closed tubes and to thermal and relaxation effects.