Shock wave structure in ternary gas mixtures with largely different molecular masses

The problem of shock wave structure in a ternary gas mixture where the molecular mass of one of the gases is much less than that of the other gases is investigated numerically using equations of three-velocity three-temperature gas dynamics. The velocity and temperature profiles of the mixture components are determined for Mach 2-4 and varying mixture parameters. It is found that a strong separation and large temperature differences form within the shock wave not only between the light and heavy gases but also between the heavy components. The temperature profiles of the heavy mixture components are found to be nonmonotonic.