1. What is the Oblique Shock Relation?

The oblique shock relation describes the angle relationship across a shock wave in supersonic flow. It connects the shock angle (β), flow deflection angle (θ), Mach number (M), and specific heat ratio (γ).

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the oblique shock relation:

Where:

• \( \theta \) — Flow deflection angle (degrees)
• \( \beta \) — Shock angle (degrees)
• \( M \) — Upstream Mach number (dimensionless)
• \( \gamma \) — Specific heat ratio (dimensionless, typically 1.4 for air)

Explanation: The equation relates the shock angle to the flow deflection angle for a given Mach number and gas properties.

3. Importance of Oblique Shock Calculation

Details: Understanding oblique shocks is crucial for designing supersonic aircraft, missiles, and spacecraft, as well as analyzing high-speed flows in nozzles and turbines.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter shock angle (β) in degrees (0-90), Mach number (M > 1), and specific heat ratio (γ ≥ 1, typically 1.4 for air). All values must be valid.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is a typical value for γ?
A: For air at standard conditions, γ = 1.4. For other gases: monatomic (γ = 1.67), diatomic (γ = 1.4), polyatomic (γ ≈ 1.3).

Q2: What's the maximum deflection angle?
A: There's a maximum deflection angle for any given Mach number, beyond which the shock becomes detached.

Q3: What happens at β = 90°?
A: The shock becomes a normal shock, and θ = 0°.

Q4: How does Mach number affect the relation?
A: Higher Mach numbers generally produce stronger shocks with larger deflection angles possible.

Q5: What are weak and strong shock solutions?
A: For a given θ and M, there are typically two possible β values - a weak shock (smaller β) and a strong shock (larger β).