Effect of reflection type on detonation initiation at shock-wave focusing

dFrom practical and theoretical standpoints, the initiation of combustion i n gaseous media due to the shock waves focusing process at various reflecto rs is a subject of much current interest. The complex gas flowfield coupled with chemical kinetics provides a wide spectrum of possible regimes of com bustion, such as fast flames: deflagration, detonation etc. Shock wave refl ection at concave surfaces or wedges causes converging of the flow and prod uces local zones with extremely high pressures and temperatures. The presen t work deals with the initiation of detonation due to shock waves focusing at parabolic and wedge reflectors. Particular attention has been given to t he determination of the critical values of the incident shock wave (ISW) Ma ch number, parameters of the combustible mixture, and geometrical sizes of reflector at which different combustion regimes could be generated.