Chapter 13.2 - Spherical Shock Waves: 13.2 General Attenuation Law for Spherical Shock Wave Propagating in Pure Gases

This chapter focuses on the general attenuation law for spherical shock wave propagating in pure gases. The most common shock wave in nature is a spherical one. Every shock wave, which is generated by a sudden release of a large amount of energy, even if its initial shape is not spherical, will turn into a spherical shock wave as it propagates into the surrounding atmosphere. This fact is the reason for the importance of knowing the flow field that is developed behind a spherical shock wave The spherical shock wave was generated by rupturing a spherical diaphragm inside which the pressure was higher than the ambient pressure and the temperature was higher than or equal to the ambient temperature. The governing equations describing the propagation of a spherical shock wave through a pure gas were formulated and solved numerically using the random choice method (RCM) with operator splitting technique.