Shock Waves and Drag in the Numerical Calculation of Compressible, Irrotational Transonic Flow

Abstract

Theme K the equations of compressible, irrotational flow dmit shock waves that model Rankine-Hugoniot shocks in the transonic range, numerical procedures developed for transonic flow often employ an isentropic assumption. The shock relations of isentropic flow are found from the theory of a weak solution, and numerical experiments demonstrate that properly differenced equations do give correct jump relations. Analysis further shows that drag can be balanced against the momentum gained through an isentropic shock. This approach offers a means of computing drag that is less sensitive to numerical truncation errors than an integration of surface pressure.