Gasdynamics task 1

2023/2024

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Chapter 1
1.1. Prove that sound propagation is isentropic
1.2. Jump equations in thermodynamic variables
1.3. The t,x diagrams
1.4. One Strong Shock

Chapter 2
2.1. Linear Wave Interaction
2.2. Moving a compressible fluid
2.3. Waves interacting with a contact discontinuity
2.4. Linear theory: Driving a free piston in a tube

Chapter 3
3.1. Various Riemann problems
3.2. Compressions
3.3. Wave interactions
3.4. Fully non-linear: Moving a gas

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Chapter 1

Problem 1.1. Prove that sound propagation is isentropic

Consider a sound wave travelling with sound velocity a into a gas at rest, having pressure p and
density r. When the sound wave has passed, the gas attains a (infinitesimally small) velocity du
following the travelling sound wave. Due to the passage of the sound wave, the pressure and the
density in the gas increases to r + dr and to p + dp respectively, see figure below.

a. Take a small part of the sound wave and view it in laboratory frame as a one-dimensional
unsteady process. Draw the picture of this process in a reference frame that moves with
the sound wave. In this reference frame identify the velocities and thermodynamic
variables on both sides of the sound wave.

b. Apply the one-dimensional conservation laws for mass and momentum for an inviscid
𝑑𝑝
compressible flow in integral form to derive that: 𝑎! = &𝑑𝜌.

c. Use energy conservation (and the result from the previous question) to show that sound
𝜕𝑝
propagation is an isentropic process: 𝑑𝑠 = 0 such that 𝑎! = ) &𝜕𝜌+ .
"

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Problem 1.2. Jump equations in thermodynamic variables

Start from the jump equations for a steady shock and use the perfect-gas law
𝑝 = (𝛾 − 1)𝜌𝑒,
to derive the following relations:

a. [𝑒]+< 𝑝 > [𝑣] = 0,

[$] [(]
b. + 𝛾 &(' = 0.
&$'

)
Remember that: 𝑣 = * = specific volume

[⋅] = (⋅)! − (⋅)) ,

c. What differential relations do these jump relations resemble? Comment on the distinction,
if you can.

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Problem 1.3. t,x diagrams

In laboratory frame, we observe a shock moving with velocity cs separating the pre-shock
state 1 and the post-shock state 2. The velocities in these zones (states) are u1 and u2
respectively, see figure below.

Draw the (t,x) diagram (including shocks and particle paths) for the following cases, give and
explain the conditions for cs, u1 and u2 with respect to each other to have a valid shock.

a) cs > 0
b) cs = 0
c1) cs < 0 u1 > 0 u2 > 0
c2) cs < 0 u1 > 0 u2 = 0
c3) cs < 0 u1 > 0 u2 < 0
c4) cs < 0 u1 = 0 u2 < 0
c5) cs < 0 u1 < 0 u2 < 0

Give typical values for the velocities in the limiting case of a strong shock in air (r2/r1 ® 6).

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Problem 1.4. One Strong Shock

A uniform hypersonic flow of Helium through a tube (state quantities labelled by subscript 1) is
disturbed at t = 0, when a shutter at the end of the tube is suddenly closed. A shock recedes
(moves to the left) from the closed end with speed cs. Behind the shock the quantities are
labelled by subscript 2.

a. Conservation of mass

Consider the (t,x) diagram for this flow. The gas, originally contained in the space interval
AO, is shocked during a time interval Dt, and is then contained in the space interval BO.
Using only this fact, (no credit for other approaches!) and the formula for the density ratio
in the very-strong-shock limit, show that cs = -1/3 u1.

b. Conservation of momentum
From the momentum jump equation for a moving shock and the formulas derived in (a),
show that:
p2 » 4/3 r1u12.

Hint: Remember that u1>>a1!

c. Conservation of energy
From the previous formulas, show that:
e2 » 1/2 u12.
NB: the energy jump equation is not needed (information replaced by the density-ratio
formula).

d. You could have produced the last equation without even looking at the jump equation.
How?

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Chapter 2.

Problem 2.1. Linear Wave Interaction

A constant area tube of uniform gas at rest (labelled 1) is closed at one end (x = L). At the other
end (x = 0) there is a movable piston. At t = 0, the piston starts moving with a velocity
2p
u p = e a 0 sin( wt ), e > 0 and small. At t = the piston is returned at its starting position
w
(x = 0) and remains there for t > 2p / w . During the movement of the piston it produces an
expansion/compression wave that lasts until it reflects from the far end, see the (t, x) diagram. In
the diagram, six regions are distinguished.

a. Identify the regions that are unperturbed, simple waves and non-simple waves and justify
your answer.
b. Take a point in region  and show that
+
𝑠̃ (𝑥! , 𝑡! ) = 𝑀(𝑥! , 𝑡! ) = 𝜀 sin 𝜔 )𝑡! − ,! +
"
c. Take a point in region  and show
𝑥- 2𝐿 𝑥-
𝑀(𝑥- , 𝑡- ) = 𝜀 sin 𝜔 E𝑡- − F − 𝜀 sin 𝜔 E𝑡- − + F
𝑎. 𝑎. 𝑎.
d. Determine the pressure as a function of time on the piston (x = 0) and at the end
of the tube (x = L). Compare the pressure signals and comment on the
differences.

e. What does an observer experience at x < xR if time proceeds.

f. Let the cross section of the tube be At; find the increase in kinetic energy of the
gas in the tube and the work done by the piston. Are these values the same, why
not?

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Problem 2.2. Moving a compressible fluid

A uniform gas (M = s! = 0, speed of sound = a0) is held in a tube by a piston on the left (x = 0)
and one on the right (x = L). At t = 0 the left piston suddenly starts to move with a small
positive speed ea0; it stops again at t = t0. The right piston does the same but with some delay; it
starts to move with speed ea0 at t = td and stops at t = td + t0.

In the figure, t0 and td have the value T/4 and T/2 respectively where T = L/a0 is the time it takes
a sound wave to move from one piston to the other. Each change of motion creates a wave; the
wave paths divide the (t,x)-plane into lots of regions. Twelve of these regions are labelled from
0 to 11.

a. Graphically determine M and s! in the regions 1-11, using five (M, s! )-diagrams:
Diagram 1 connects regions 0, 1, 2, 4.
Diagram 2 connects regions 1, 3, 4, 6.
Diagram 3 connects regions 2, 4, 5, 7.
Diagram 4 connects regions 6, 7, 8, 9, 10.
Diagram 5 connects regions 10, 11.
Indicate wave type (compression/expansion) in these diagrams.

b. Besides region 0 there are 4 other numbered regions where the gas is unperturbed; List
these.

c. In which region is the velocity highest? Why?

d. In which region is the density highest? Why?

e. In which region is the velocity negative? Why?

f. Now assume td = T, all else remaining the same. Draw the wave paths and one particle
path in an (x,t)-diagram. Discuss how the above system can be modified to move a gas
while making (almost) no waves.

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Problem 2.3. Waves interacting with a contact discontinuity

Consider a semi-infinite tube having a piston at its left end (x = 0). At t<0 the tube contains
two uniform states, 0 and 4 of the same gas at rest separated by a contact discontinuity (c.d.) at
x = L.

Conditions:
left state 0, 0 < x < L: p0, r0,
right state 4, x > L: p4 = p0 but r4 ≠ r0.

At t = 0 the piston accelerates instantaneously and moves with speed Up into the gas; at t = T the
piston stops and keeps its position for t > T.
The piston creates a wave that moves into the gas (with state 0) and interacts with the c.d. Due
to interaction a transmitted wave (state 3) moves into the gas (state 4) and a reflected wave
(state 6) moves to the left.

Assume for 0 < t < T, Up = ea0 (where e is small) linear theory is applicable and waves can be
treated as acoustic waves. We distinguish the domains 0-8 in the (t,x)-diagram below.

a. Express the acoustic speed a in terms of p and r and determine the slopes of the
characteristics left and right from the c.d. (distinguish the cases r4>r0 and r4<r0).

b. Show that the c.d. separating 0 and 4 is not moving. Determine the time at which this c.d.
starts moving. Determine the values of M and s! in state 1 and also the values of u1 and
p1.

c. Now concentrate on the c.d. separating states 2 and 3. Using the conditions p2 = p3 and
u2 = u3 show (in linear theory) that the c.d. moves with the velocity.
ρ0 a0
uc.d. = Up
1
2 ( ρ0 a0 + ρ4 a4 )
Using this value, now the values of M and s! in the domains 2, 3 and 6 have to be
determined. (Hint: Be aware that the reference values of states left and right from the c.d.
differ!)

d. Comment on the behaviour of the reflected wave (state 6) and the transmitted wave (state
3) with respect to the incoming wave (state 1), for the two limiting cases:
ρ 4 = ρ0 (actually no c.d.) ρ 4 >> ρ0 (c.d. is a rigid wall)

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Problem 2.4. Linear theory: Driving a free piston in a tube

A semi-infinite tube with constant area (A) filled with gas at (M = 0, s! = 0, sound speed a0,
pressure p0) has a movable piston L at its left and (x = 0) and a second movable piston R (mass
m) at x = ℓ > 0 in the tube.

At time t = 0 the left piston is forced to move with constant speed uℓ = ε a0 (e > 0 and small)
causing an acoustic (compression) wave running into the gas. The right piston R at x = ℓ stays
there until t =  / a 0 when it is hit by the compression wave, then the piston R starts moving
too, causing a wave running into the gas to the right of this piston, see (t,x)-diagram below:

a. Let the velocity of the piston R be denoted by ur(t). Using linear theory, express the value
of ~
s on each face of piston R in terms of the velocity ur(t) and shows that the results are:
ur (t )
s!2 = 2ε − ,
a0
ur (t )
s!3 = ,
a0

b. Apply Newton’s Second Law on the piston R to find its motion and show that ur(t)
follows from the O.D.E.
dur 2Aa 0 ρ0
+ λ ur = λεa 0 , with λ=
dt m

c. The general solution of this O.D.E. can be written in the form

ur = Ce− λt + a0ε
where C is a constant determined by the initial conditions.

Formulate the appropriate initial conditions for piston R and determine the constant C

d. Draw the graph ur(t) for t > 0 and comment on the motion of piston R if t → ¥.

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Chapter 3

Problem 3.1. Various Riemann problems

Consider the following initial conditions. Indicate them in a p,u diagram and draw the Poisson
and/or Hugoniot curves connecting the initial states to the post states (solution). Using the p,u
diagram, draw the x,t diagram containing the waves and particle paths. Indicate the type of the
wave (compression or expansion). For cases d) and e) also comment on the relative strength of
the waves (which of the two is stronger and why?).

Initial conditions:
a) 𝑢) < 𝑢/ , 𝑝) = 𝑝/
b) 𝑢) > 𝑢/ , 𝑝) = 𝑝/
c) 𝑢) = 𝑢/ , 𝑝) ≠ 𝑝/
$ 0$
d) 0 < 𝑢) − 𝑢/ = # $
*$ ,$
$# 0$$
e) 0 ≥ 𝑢) − 𝑢/ = − *# ,#

Problem 3.2. Compressions

a. Starting from rest a piston is accelerated into a tube filled with uniform He at rest, sound
speed a0, creating a centered compression wave. Once the piston has reached a speed
u1 = 3a0, it continues its motion at that speed. Compute the density ratio r1/r0 across the
wave, valid before the wave has focussed into a shock.

b. If the piston were accelerated instantaneously to speed u1, creating a shock, would the
density ratio across the shock be greater than, equal to, or less than the ratio found under
(a), justify your answer?

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Problem 3.3. Wave interactions

A shock running through a uniform gas encounters a contact discontinuity. The interaction
creates a second non-linear wave.

Determine the nature of this wave (compression or expansion) from a p,u diagram.

You must distinguish between two cases: r1>r0 and r1<r0. Use the notation of the figure below.

(Hint: points 0 and 1 are indistinguishable in a p,u diagram; what matters is the value of ra
since this is equal to the slope of the Poisson or Hugoniot curves.)

Do the answers obtained make sense, explain?

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Problem 3.4. Fully non-linear: Moving a gas

A tube filled wit a uniform gas at rest is closed by pistons at both ends; they are a distance ℓ
apart. At time t = 0 both pistons are forced to move at the same speed up>0. Shock- and
expansion waves are generated. They run from one piston to the other, interact and reflect. Part
of this process is sketched (not to scale) in the (t,x)-diagram below; various domains are
distinguished. (Note that shocks get curved when they interact).

a. In the labelled area of the (t,x)-diagram there are three regions of constant entropy; the
entropy levels are different. Indicate these regions (each may extend over several labelled
domains) and number them I, II and III in the order of increasing entropy. Discuss your
answer.

b. Among the labelled domains (A-H) there are domains having uniform conditions (u =
constant, a = constant). Indicate those which have a velocity u = up.

c. Among the labelled domains there are three simple waves. Indicate them and explain
3$
which of the Riemann invariant 𝐽1 or 𝐽0 is constant in which region )𝑑𝐽± = 𝑑𝑢 ± *, +.

!,
d. In homentropic flow, the Riemann invariants can be integrated leading to 𝐽± = 𝑢 ± 40).
Which domains do not satisfy the homentropic conditions?

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