Focusing of a shock wave in a rarefied gas. A numerical study (Q1978069)

The process of focusing of a shock wave in a rarefied gas is investigated by a numerical method within the framework of kinetic theory of rarefied gases. The numerical method is based on a splitting algorithm in which the collision integral is computed by Monte Carlo quadrature, and free gas flow equations are solved by finite volume method. The development of the shock wave, which reflects from a suitably shaped reflector, is analyzed, and the influence of different factors involved in the mathematical model is studied. Moreover, the authors investigate the dependence of shock focusing phenomena on the reflector shape and on the Mach number of the incoming shock.