Interaction of a shock wave with a mixing region

The interaction of a simple wave, in steady supersonic flow, with a two-dimension mixing region is treated by applying Fourier analysis to the linearized equations of motion. From asymptotic forms for the Fourier transforms of physical quantities, for large wave-number, the dominant features of the resulting flow pattern are predicted; in particular it is found that a shock wave, incident on the mixing region, is reflected as a logarithmically infinite ridge of pressure. For two particular Mach-number distributions in the undisturbed flow, numerical solutions are obtained, showing greater detail than the results predicted by the asymptotic approach. A method is given whereby the linear theory may be improved to take into account some non-linear effects; and the reflected wave, for an incident shock wave, is then seen to consist of a shock wave, gradually diminishing in strength, followed by the main expansion wave.