Results are given of investigations of the origination and development of c
ombustion and detonation initiated by shock waves in hydrogen-containing mi
xtures. Primary attention is given to the singularities of the processes th
at accompany the entry of shock waves of moderate intensity into a closed c
onical chamber. The obtained results and the developed procedure may be use
d both to solve the important practical problem of assessing the explosion
safety of industrial objects and to gain a better understanding of the fund
amental problem of transition from combustion to detonation.