Abstract
We have recently obtained many photographs of Mach waves1, known alternatively as ‘bridge’ or ‘Y’ waves2, in the shock wave systems resulting from the detonation of unconfined charges of solid explosive. Waves of this type, which Mach postulated from the observation of soot patterns, are produced when supersonic waves intersect at obtuse angles of incidence. Instead of the simple intersection (which obtains in collisions at acute angles as well as in collisions of sonic waves at any angle of incidence), there is formed a Mach wave which travels in a direction parallel to the plane of symmetry bisecting the angle between the original colliding shock waves.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Mach, Site. (Wiener) Akad. Wissenschaften, 77, 819 (1878).
McMillen and Harvey, J. Appl. Phys., 17, 541 (1946)
Payman and Woodhead, Proc. Roy. Soc., A, 163, 575 (1937).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
WOODHEAD, D., WILSON, R. Mach Waves in Shock Wave Systems from Detonating Explosives. Nature 160, 672–673 (1947). https://doi.org/10.1038/160672a0
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/160672a0
- Springer Nature Limited