ANALYSIS OF THE SHOCK STRUCTURES IN A REGULAR DETONATION

Time-dependent two-dimensional numerical simulations have been used to investigate the detailed shock structures and patterns of energy rele ase in the regions of the triple points and transverse waves in a plan ar detonation. As the system of shock triple points evolves between co llisions, they trace a well shaped cellular pattern characteristic of detonations in argon-diluted, low-pressure mixtures of hydrogen and ox ygen. In the region of the triple points, the shock structure evolves continuously from a single Mach structure to a double Mach structure a nd finally to a complex Mach structure characteristic of spinning deto nations. Most of the energy released in the region of the triple point s. The amount of energy release increases as the triple point comes cl oser to a collision with a wall or another triple point. Just before t he collision, there is a large region of energy release that covers th e length of the interacting transverse waves. The result is a rectangu lar high-energy region which boosts the propagation of the new detonat ion cell.