Description

This test case consists of an oblique shock wave impacting a solid wall. The flow is considered viscous meaning that a boundary layer will be generated on the solid wall which will result in complex interactions occurring between the oblique shock wave and the boundary layer. Except for very weak shocks, no analytical solutions that accurately describes the behavior of the flow has been provided. Most results and information therefore rely on experimental results making numerical tools very important in order to accurately reproduce and predict complex interactions.

In the case of an oblique shock wave impacting a boundary layer, the boundary layer will thicken and possibly separate in the area of the impact point of the incident shock wave. In the case of a boundary layer separation, the reflected shock wave will be generated upstream of the impact point of the incoming shock wave. On the other hand, after the impact point, the boundary layer’s thickness should diminish generating expansion waves that may accelerate the flow sufficiently enough in order to make it locally supersonic again and generate a second reflected shock wave. Although not the subject of this test case, a possible turbulent transition of the boundary layer may also occur.

References : G. I. T. L. HAKKINEN, R.J. AND S. ABARBANEL, The interaction of an oblique shock wave with a laminar boundary layer, NASA Memo 2-18-59W, (1959).