Mechanisms of Oblique Shock-Induced Combustion Instability

Instability of oblique detonation waves (ODW) at off-attaching condition was investigated through a series of numerical simulations. Two-dimensional wedge of finite length was considered in $H_2/O_2/N_2$ mixtures at superdetonative condition. Numerical simulation was carried out with a compressible fluid dynamics code and a detailed hydrogen-oxygen combustion mechanism. Present result reveals that there is a chemical kinetic limit of the ODW detachment, in addition to the theoretical limit predicted by Rankine-Hugoniot theory with equilibrium chemistry. Result also presents that ODW still attaches at a wedge as an oblique shock-induced flame showing periodically unstable motion, if the Rankine-Hugoniot limit of detachment is satisfied but the chemical kinetic limit is not. Mechanism of the periodic instability is considered as interactions of shock and reaction waves coupled with chemical kinetic effects. From the investigation of characteristic chemical time, condition of the periodic instability is identified as follows; at the detaching condition of the Rankine-Hugoniot theory, (1) flow residence time is smaller than the chemical characteristic time, behind the detached shock wave with heat addition, (2) flow residence time should be greater than the chemical characteristic time, behind an oblique shock wave without heat addition.