Numerical Study of Detonation Stabilization by Finite Length Wedges

A numerical study is conducted of the interaction between the leading oblique detonation wave stabilized by a wedge ramp of finite length and the expansion waves generated by the sudden deflection of the wedge surface. The two-dimensional Euler equations for a reactive gas mixture are solved using a cell-centered finite volume technique on unstructured meshes. Mesh refinement and coarsening techniques are used to concentrate the computational volumes in regions of interest of the flowfield. A detailed chemical kinetic mechanism is employed to describe the combustion process in the mixtures of hydrogen and air considered. Computational results show that a Chapman‐ Jouguet oblique detonation wave is obtained for intermediate wedge angles within the range of stable detonations. For wedge angles near to the maximum angle that supports stable oblique detonations, decoupling of the oblique detonation wave is observed.