Numerical Study of Unsteady Shock Wave Interaction in a Rarefied Gas

Unsteady interactions of shock waves are simulated numerically and analyzed taking into account viscosity and heat conductivity effects. Both a symmetric head-on collision of two shock waves of an equal strength and an asymmetric interaction of two shock waves propagating with different velocities are considered. In comparison with the classical inviscid case new effects connected with a finite width of the interacting shock waves have been observed. An increase in temperature and entropy is observed in the wake trailing behind a viscous spot formed by the intersecting symmetric finite-width shock waves. An expanding viscous contact wave formed as a result of the asymmetric interaction generates weak pressure and disturbances in the space between two reflected shock waves.