Evolution of a shock waves moving in complex geometry

This experimental study investigates the transient evolution of a normal shockwave as it travels downstream of an abrupt sharp area expansion of finite size. During this process, the shock undergoes an expansion and interacts with the walls of the conduit, resulting in the formation of a complex flow field characterized by multiple shock reflections, shock vortex, and shock-shock interactions. By analyzing these phenomena, we seek to gain a deeper understanding of the fundamental mechanisms that govern the decay of these transient features as the shock propagates downstream.