Theory of cellular detonations in gases. Part 2. Mach-stem formation at strong overdrive

A weakly nonlinear analysis of cellular detonations at onset of the instabi lity against transverse disturbances is carried out in the Newtonian limit at strong overdrive. A nonlinear integral-differential equation describing the formation of cusps representative of Machstems on the detonation front is obtained as an asymptotic solution of the reactive Euler equations. A nu merical study of this equation exhibits patterns that are similar to the ce llular structures observed experimentally in gaseous detonation waves. (C) 2001 Academie des sciences/Editions scientifiques et medicales Elsevier SAS .