Suppression of the vorticity production by the unsteady rarefaction waves in the blast-bubble interactions

Abstract

Interactions between a blast wave and an isolated density-inhomogeneity were investigated numerically. A blast wave that consisted of a leading-edge shock wave followed by rarefaction waves impinged on a spherical light-gas bubble that models the density-inhomogeneity. As a result, it was found that the baroclinically produced vorticity on the bubble/atmosphere interface was suppressed significantly by the presence of the rarefaction waves when the shock strength was weak. The rarefaction waves became less influential as the shock strength was increased.