Study of self-similar and steady flows near singularities

Abstract

One-dimensional steady state flow or a self-similar flow is represented by an integral curve of the system of ordinary differential equations and, in many important cases, the integral curve passes through a singular point. Kulikovskii & Slobodkina (1967) have shown that the stability of a steady flow near the singularity can be studied with the help of a simple first-order partial differential equation. In section 2 of this paper we have used their method to study steady transonic flows in radiation-gas-dynamics in the neighbourhood of the sonic point. We find that all possible one-dimensional steady flows in radiation-gas-dynamics are locally stable in the neighbourhood of the sonic point. A continuous disturbance on a steady flow, while decaying and propagating, may develop a surface of discontinuity within it. We have determined the conditions for the appearance of such a discontinuity and also the exact position where it appears. In section 3 we have shown that their method can be easily generalized to study the stability of self-similar flows. As an example we have considered the stability of the self-similar flow behind a strong imploding shock. In this case we find that the flow is stable with respect to radially symmetric disturbances.