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The flow fields behind the Mach stem in steady-state Mach reflections are analysed theoretically and numerically. When the angle between the slipline and the reflecting plane is sufficiently small, the subsonic flow just behind the Mach stem can be described by the isentropic small-disturbance equation. Using this analytical model, a very simple algebraic expression for the shape of the Mach stem is obtained. It is found that the Mach stem is well-approximated by a circular arc with very small curvature. The prediction by the model agrees very well with numerical computations.
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Tan et al. (2005) studied this question.
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