11.7.

NORMAL SHOCK WAVES

A body moving in compressible fluid creates disturbances that propagate through the fluid.

When amplitude of these waves infinitesimally small (change of flow properties across the wave
infinitesimally small)  weak waves

When amplitude of these waves finite (change of flow properties across the wave finite) shock
waves

Across a shock wave, the gas is compressed instantaneously  irreversible process; entropy rises.

Shock waves:

1) Oblique shock waves (shock wave inclined with respect to flow direction)

2) Normal shock waves (shock wave normal to flow direction)  will analyze this.

11.7.1. DEVELOPMENT OF WAVES

Series of compression and expansion waves propagating in fluid.

11.7.1.1. Development of Compression Waves

Across a compression wave, the flow decelerates and the pressure increases.
Figure 11.22. Development of compression waves

dV dV c
t = to po

po
x
any new disturbance created here will travel at a faster speed than c,
i.e. c + dc, since the pressure and temperature have now risen here.

2dV 2dV dV c
t = t1 po
c + dc + dV

po
x
 2dV 2dV dV c
t = t2 po
c + dc + dV

po
x
The wave traveling behind has a higher wave speed  compression waves getting closer and
closer.

Figure 11.23. Formation of a Shock Wave

Piston accelerated from rest to finite velocity, V. Series of waves created (wave front).
t = t1 V

tail of the wave front head of the wave front

p

x
t = t2 V

shock
wave
t = t3 V

x
Thickness of shock wave ≈ 0.25 m  extremely large p and T gradients across.
11.7.1.2. Development of Expansion Waves

Across an expansion wave, the flow accelerates and the pressure decreases.

Figure 11.24. Development of expansion waves

dV dV c
t = to po

po

x
any new disturbance created here will travel at a slower speed than c,
i.e. c – dc, since the pressure and temperature have dropped here.

2dV 2dV dV c
t = t1 po
c  dc  dV

p
po

x
t = t2
2dV 2dV dV c
po
c  dc  dV

p
po

Since the expansion waves can not catch up with one another, a shock wave can not form with
expansion waves.

11.7.2. Governing Equations Across a Shock Wave:

1-D, steady-state, adiabatic flow with no friction. Property change across a shock wave is
irreversible.
Assumptions:

 Shock wave is perpendicular to flow

 Thickness of shock wave small  assume shock over constant cross-section
 Exclude B/L effects on the shock  frictionless duct
 No external work
 Body forces negligible
x y
Control
flow volume

Normal shock
wave
Figure 11.25

Properties change across the schock wave.

x: upstream of shock wave

y: downstream of shock wave

Governing equations on the infinitesimally thin control volume:

Continuity:

Momentum:

Substituting the continuity (1) above yields

Energy:
Second Law:

Irreversible flow across shock wave

Equation of State:

Perfect gas,
FANNO LINE (section 11.9.2):

Suppose the shock upstream state and mass flux through the duct are known.

The downstream of the shock wave is to be determined.

Using only the continuity equation, energy equation and the equation of state (ideal gas law), the
possible downstream states can be determined (since we did not use the momentum equation, we
do not have a unique downstream state, yet). When these states are marked on the h-s diagram,
the resulting locus curve is known as the Fanno Line.

h
ho
VA2 / 2
A
Ma = 1
subsonic

VB2 / 2 Ma = 1
Ma = 1

B supersonic
s
s smax
Figure 11.39
The Fanno Line represents all downstream states for a known upstream state for adiabatic flow (ho
= const.) with friction (there can be friction since the momentum equation was not used), where
the mass flux is fixed (for a different mass flux, the curve will shift). Note that one of the points on
the curve represents the shock upstream state, x.

It can be shown that on the Fanno line:

 the maximum entropy state corresponds to Ma = 1

 the upper curve represents subsonic flow and the lower curve represents supersonic flow

Since the entropy must increase in adiabatic flow with friction:

 a subsonic flow accelerates due to friction (s↑), approaching Ma = 1,

 a supersonic flow decelerates due to friction (s↑), again approaching Ma = 1
 But a subsonic flow can never become supersonic or a supersonic flow can never become
subsonic due only to friction. The limit is choking.
RAYLEIGH LINE (section 11.10.2):

Suppose the shock upstream state and mass flux through the duct are known.

The downstream of the shock wave is to be determined.

Using only the continuity equation, momentum equation and the equation of state (ideal gas law),
the possible downstream states can be determined (since we did not use the energy equation, we
do not have a unique exit state, yet). When these states are marked on the h-s diagram, the
resulting locus curve is known as the Rayleigh Line.

ho VA2 / 2
A subsonic
Ma = 1

VB2 / 2 Ma = 1
Ma = 1 supersonic

B
s
s smax 11.45
Figure
The Rayleigh Line represents all downstream states for a known upstream state for frictionless
flow with heat transfer (heat transfer is possible since the energy equation was not used), where
the mass flux is fixed (for a different mass flux, the curve will shift). Note that one of the points on
the curve represents the shock upstream state, x. Since heat transfer is allowed, the total enthalpy
also changes.

It can be shown that on the Rayleigh line:

 the maximum entropy state corresponds to Ma = 1

 the upper curve represents subsonic flow and the lower curve represents supersonic flow

The entropy may increase or decrease depending on whether heat is transferred to or from the
control volume in the frictionless flow. Thus:

 With heating (s↑), a subsonic flow accelerates, approaching Ma = 1,

 With heating (s↑), a supersonic flow decelerates, again approaching Ma = 1
 But further heating does not make a subsonic flow become supersonic or a supersonic flow
become subsonic. Cooling must follow for the flow to cross Ma = 1 smoothly.
Now suppose, for a given mass flux and a given shock upstream state, the Fanno and the Rayleigh
lines are plotted on the same graph.
h
Fanno

flow across a
normal shock
Rayleigh
x

s
sx sy

It turns out that two points intersect. These points represent states at which the flow is both
adiabatic and frictionless. The flow accross the shock is adiabatic and frictionless. Then, one of
these points is the shock upstream state and the other, the shock downstream state.

The entropy values of the two points are not the same. Since the flow across a shock wave is
irreversible, the downstream state must have the higher entropy.

The upstream state is supersonic and the downstream state is subsonic. Thus, shock waves can
happen only in supersonic flow and the flow becomes subsonic once it crosses a shock wave.
11.7.3. Relations for the Flow of a Perfect Gas Across a Shock Wave:

Using the five equations (continuity, momentum, energy, entropy and equation of state), the
downstream properties are expressed with respect to Max (upstream Ma). These relations are
tabulated in Appendix C.4 for air (k = 1.4).

Upstream and Downstream Mach Numbers:

Substitute ideal gas law (5) into continuity (1):

Knowing that , the above equation becomes

√

( ) ( )

Energy equation (3) can be reexpressed as

Stagnation temperature remains constant across the shock wave!

Using , and , the energy equation becomes

Combining equations (6) and (7),

Using the ideal gas law and the Ma definition in the momentum equation (2), the momentum
equation is rearranged as

Equating (8) and (9) and solving for yields

√
So if you know the Mach number upstream of the shock wave, you can determine the downstream
Mach number.

Pressure Ratio Across a Shock Wave:

Substitute (10) in (9)

Temperature Ratio Across a Shock Wave:

Substitute (10) in (7)

( )( )

Density Ratio Across a Shock Wave:

From equation of state

Substituting equations (11) and (12) above

Velocity Ratio Across a Shock Wave:

Using equations (1) and (13)

Stagnation Pressure Ratio Across a Shock Wave:

The stagnation to static pressure ratio was derived earlier in section 11.6.4 (in isentropic flow):

( )

Combining the above two equations and substituting (11) yields

 ( ) ( )

Critical Area Ratio Across a Shock Wave:

Critical area is used as reference in isentropic flow.

Flow across a shock wave not isentropic; critical area changes,

Recall

̇√
√ ( )

derived in section 11.6.4.

When the critical area is reached, and Ma = 1

̇√
√ ( )

Thus,
 ̇√ ̇√

From the energy equation, it was shown that . Substituting (15) above

( ) ( )

Entropy Change Across a Shock Wave:

For a perfect gas,

Using the previously derived temperature and pressure ratios along with stagnation properties,
the above equation can be rearranged as
 ( ) ( )

When the entropy change is plotted against the upstream Mach number (for 1 ≤ k ≤ 1.67):

𝒔𝒚 𝒔𝒙
𝑹

Shocks are possible

0 𝑴𝒂𝒙
0 1

Shocks are
not possible

Once again, it is seen that shocks are possible only in supersonic flow
Problem 11.28:

Air stream with Ma = 1.8 goes through normal shock wave. Stagnation temperature and pressure
before shock: 150 kPa and 350 K. Determine

a) T and p after the shock, b) Ma and V after the shock, c) To and po after the shock, d) s across
the shock.
Problem 11.29:
e
Supersonic air stream entering a diverging i
duct slows down due to a shock wave. Mae = 0.6
Mai = 2
Determine pi = 40 kPa
a) pressure after the normal shock wave, Ae / Ai = 1.5
normal shock
b) pressure at the exit of the duct. wave