Radiative heat-transfer effects on the propagation of pressure shocks

The propagation of a pressure shock has been studied by taking into account the effects of radiative heat transfer. The velocity of propagation of the pressure shock has been determined and its variation with the strength of the shock is computed. It is found that the velocity of propagation of the pressure shock decreases continuously with the decrease of its strength during propagation till the pressure discontinuity vanishes ultimately. The effects of radiative heat transfer will slow down the rate of decrease of the velocity of propagation. A differential equation governing the variations of the strength of the pressure shock during propagation has been determined and solved numerically. The numerical results show that the strength of the pressure shock will continuously decrease till the pressure discontinuity vanishes ultimately. The radiative heat-transfer effects will slow down the rate of decrease in the strength of the pressure shock. The results of Thomas are recovered as a particular case.