Blast wave propagation through reactive gas medium (Q1082958)

The effects of particulates formed due to a chemical reaction at the wave-front on the propagation of a blast wave in a combustible particle- laden gas is investigated. The reaction at the wave front is exothermic, instantaneous and generates solid particles. Sakurai's series expansion method [\textit{A. Sakurai} in: \textit{M. Holt} (ed.), Modern developments in fluid dynamics, Academic Press (1965)] is used to solve the two phase flow equations following the explosion. It is found that at high conversions of the gas into solid particles the pressure, density and velocity inside the blast wave differ widely from their values in the absence of particle production. The blast wave is found to decay more rapidly in the former case. Increase in the number of particles behind the wavefront due to particle production has only a marginal effect on the density profiles unlike the case of blast waves propagation through dusty gases but without particle production.