STRONG CONVERGING SHOCK-WAVES IN A RADIATING GAS

Strong converging shock waves in plane and radially symmetric flows of a thermally radiating gas are considered. The ambient gas ahead of th e shock is considered to be inhomogeneous, where the density varies ac cording to a power law of the distance from the center (axis) of implo sion. Similarity solutions and state dependent from of the gas absorpt ion coefficient are obtained by using the method of Lie group invarian ce. In contrast to the situation without radiation, the inclusion of r adiative effects imply a constraint condition, which governs the dynam ics of the problem. Numerical calculations have been performed to dete rmine the values of the self similar exponent and the profiles of the flow variables influenced by the effects of thermal radiation and the ambient density stratification.