Mutual Reflection of Two Shock Waves of Arbitrary Strengths

Experiments were performed in air on the mutual reflection of a pair of weak shock waves of strength ξ = 0.915. The strengths of the shock waves were measured interferometrically. The regular reflection data agreed with the weak shock regular reflection solution for the flow. Regular reflection terminated at the extreme angle αe, and Mach reflection was found for larger angles. Four sets of experiments were performed in air with pairs of mutually reflecting shock waves of unequal strengths. The strengths of these shock waves were also measured interferometrically. The regular data agreed with the weak shock regular reflection solution for the flow. Mach reflection was found to occur for angles larger than the extreme angle. The experiments failed to resolve any of the difficulties concerned with Mach reflection.