Coupled models for propagation of explosive shock waves in cylindrical and spherical geometries

Abstract

The propagation of shock waves in different geometries is crucial in engineering and scientific applications. A comprehensive model is developed to elucidate the hydrodynamic growth and decay of shock waves in cylindrical and spherical geometries by using the strong shock wave assumption. This model takes into consideration the conservation equations governing mass, momentum, and energy, thereby allowing for an accurate description of the coupled behavior between the piston and shock wave propagation. In contrast to the localized analysis employed in previous self-similar methods, this model incorporates the finite sound wave velocity to introduce the concept of retarded pressure on the piston surface. Consequently, the proposed model offers a multitude of advantages by providing a complete set of dynamic information concerning the trajectories, velocities, and accelerations of both the piston and shock wave. Furthermore, an asymptotic analytical solution is derived to describe the decay of shock waves in cylindrical and spherical geometries. To validate the theoretical analysis and illustrate the propagation characteristics of shock waves in these specific geometries, thorough comparisons are conducted. These findings contribute to the advancement of our understanding of shock wave dynamics in various physical systems, particularly in the field of plasma physics.