Equation of a shock wave front (Q1592052)

The author derives equations which describe local laws of propagation of two-dimensional unsteady shocks in a gas at rest, and three-dimensional steady shocks behind which the flow is supersonic. In their properties these equations are similar to the wave equation, but have characteristics which differ from sonic or Mach lines. For weak and strong shocks the angle between the characteristics of these equations may be, respectively, less or greater than the angle of the characteristic cone behind the shock. In the latter case, the exceeding of domains of influence and dependence of the solutions of front equation, as compared with those determined by the characteristic cone behind the shock, may require corrections to the stability criteria for finite-difference methods for solution of inviscid problems.