Transition between regular and Mach reflection of shock waves: new numerical and experimental results

New numerical and experimental results on the transition between regular an d Mach reflections of steady shock waves are presented. The influence of fl ow three-dimensionality on transition between steady regular and Mach refle ction has been studied in detail both numerically and experimentally. Chara cteristic features of 3D shock wave configuration, such as peripheral Mach reflection, non-monotonous Mach stem variation in transverse direction, the existence of combined Mach-regular-peripheral Mach shock wave configuratio n, have been found in the numerical simulations. The application of laser s heet imaging technique in streamwise direction allowed us to confirm all th e details of shock wave configuration in the experiments. Close agreement o f the numerical and experimental data on Mach stem heights is shown.