THE NUMERICAL-SIMULATION OF SHOCK BIFURCATION NEAR THE END WALL OF A SHOCK-TUBE

The reflection of a normal shock wave from the end wall of a two-dimen sional channel has been numerically simulated to investigate the unste ady, viscous interaction aspects of shock bifurcation. The numerical s imulation implements a data-parallel version of the Flux-Corrected Tra nsport algorithm that has been coupled to the viscous transport terms of the Navier-Stokes equations. All numerical simulations were perform ed on the Connection Machine, the CM-5. The results indicate that the shear layer in the bifurcation zone is unstable, and the large and sma ll scale vortices lead to complex flow patterns. In addition, the high -speed, essentially inviscid flow, which is adjacent to the shear laye r, is deflected over this region. As a result, weak shock and expansio ns waves are generated and a reattachment shock is formed at the trail ing edge of the interaction region. The impact of heat transfer, Reyno lds number, and incident shock strength on the viscous interaction is also investigated. Heat transfer to the walls weakens the interaction between the boundary layer and the reflected shock. However, the decre ased Reynolds number and increased shock strength enhances the interac tion. (C) 1995 American Institute of Physics.