On stability of strong and weak reflected shocks

A time-realistic adaptive unstructured Euler code is used to demonstrate the numerical existence and investigate the stability of both weak and strong reflected shocks in regular reflection. For supersonic parallel flow in a channel, impinging on two symmetrical opposing wedges, the weak reflected configuration is insensitive to downstream pressure disturbances and therefore stable. The strong reflected shock configuration is unstable to positive perturbations in back-pressure and neutrally stable to negative perturbations. A unique Delta -shock structure provides the transition mechanism between weak and strong reflected shock configurations.