Numerical Study of Formation of a Detonation Wave in a Supersonic Flow over a Wedge by an H2-O2 Mixture with Nonequilibrium Excitation of Molecular Vibrations of Reagents

Specific features of formation of an oblique detonation wave in a supersonic hydrogen-oxygen mixture flow over a plane wedge are analyzed. Preliminary excitation of molecular vibrations of H2 is shown to lead to a noticeable (severalfold) decrease in the induction-zone length and the distance at which the detonation wave is formed. These effects are manifested even if H2 molecules are excited in a narrow region in the vicinity of the flow centerline. The reason for these effects is intensification of chain reactions in the H2-O2 (air) mixture owing to the presence of vibrationally excited hydrogen molecules in the flow.