Reflection of a moving shock wave over an oblique shock wave

Abstract The reflection of a moving shock wave over a wedge immersed in a still gas and the reflection of a wedge induced steady shock wave over symmetrical and asymmetrical reflecting surfaces have received intensive considerations since more than 70 years ago. Here we consider a different shock reflection problem—reflection of a moving shock wave over an initially steady oblique shock wave induced by a wedge immersed in supersonic flow. For the flow condition we considered, five moving triple points, with each connecting an incident shock wave, a reflected shock wave and a Mach stem, are identified. By using the reference frame co-moving with each triple point, the type of each shock wave of this triple point is clarified. The present study is significant in that it treats a new shock reflection problem leading to a new shock reflection configuration and showing potential applications in supersonic flow with unsteady shock interaction.