One major problem that has plagued supersonic aircraft is their noise. The Concorde – thus far the only supersonic commercial airliner – was plagued with noise complaints that ultimately restricted Keep reading
Tag: shock reflection
Supersonic Flow Around a Cylinder
This numerical simulation shows unsteady supersonic flow (Mach 2) around a circular cylinder. On the right are contours of density, and on the left is entropy viscosity, used for stability Keep reading
Rocket Engine Testing
Rocket engine tests usually feature a distinct and steady pattern of Mach diamonds in their exhaust. This series of reflected shock waves and expansion fans forms as a result of Keep reading
Computational Shock Compression
[original media no longer available] Computational modeling can help verify and visualize experimental results, as in this video of supersonic flow. Oak Ridge National Laboratory produced the work as part Keep reading
Shock Waves
Flow visualization really can be considered a form of art. Though we fluid mechanicians are looking for physics, we’re quite aware of the beauty of what we study. The clips Keep reading
Mach Diamonds
Joe asks: Why does this rocket have that repeating pattern in its exhaust? I’m amazed that it’s so stable for so far as distance from the nozzle. Excellent question! The Keep reading