Onset of oblique detonation waves: Comparison between experimental and numerical results for hydrogen-air mixtures

Stable delayed oblique detonation waves have been observed both numerically and experimentally in hydrogen-air stoichiometric mixtures for Mach numbers 6 and 7.5. The experimental results obtained using an oblique shock tube facility are compared to calculations made by solving the full conservation equations for a reactive gas. The overall flow structure obtained experimentally is compared to detailed computations of an oblique shock wave to oblique detonation-wave transition over a wedge, and resulting flow fields are analyzed on the basis of shock and detonation polars.