Shock reflection and oblique shock waves

The linear stability of steady attached oblique shock wave and pseudosteady regular shock reflection is studied for the nonviscous full Euler system of equations in aerodynamics. A sufficient and necessary condition is obtained for their linear stability under three-dimensional perturbation. The result confirms the sonic point condition in the study of transition point from regular reflection to Mach reflection, in contrast to the von Neumann condition and detachment condition predicted from mathematical constraint. (c) 2007 American Institute of Physics.