Nonequilibrium processes in meta-stable media⋆.

Abstract

Meta-stable systems are those staying in the local equilibrium state: being slightly deviated from it they return to the equilibrium, but in case deviation surpasses a critical value those systems fall down to another equilibrium state. Chemically reacting gaseous mixture provides a typical example of a meta-stable system. The paper is aimed at numerical and experimental investigation of detonation initiation in hydrogen-air mixtures due to focusing of a shock wave reflected inside a wedge. Both numerical and experimental investigations were conducted. Comparison of numerical and experimental results made it possible to validate the developed 3D transient mathematical model of chemically reacting gas mixture flows incorporating hydrogen-air mixtures. Kinetic schemes and turbulence models were improved based on comparison of numerical and experimental results. Several different flow scenarios manifest in the reflection of shock waves all being dependent on the incident shock wave intensity: reflection of the shock wave with lagging behind the combustion zone, formation of a detonation wave in reflection and focusing, and intermediate transient regimes.