Experimental study of interaction between oblique detonation wave and rarefaction wave around a hypersonic free projectile

Hypersonic projectiles whose speed was beyond the Chapman-Jouguet (C-J) detonation speed, were fired into stoichiometric hydrogen-oxygen premixed gases. The flowfield around the projectile was visualized using a gated CCD camera. A steady-state detonation wave was generated around the projectile. With respect to the flow Mach number behind the wave front, the whole detonation-wave was partitioned into four parts; (i) strong overdriven detonation wave, (ii) weak overdriven detonation wave, (iii) quasi C-J detonation wave, and (iv) C-J detonation wave. It has been found that a rarefaction wave generated at the projectile shoulder has a significant effect on the structure of the detonation wave.