Papers

This paper deals with an analytical study of shock waves propagating in heterogeneous metallic mediums. A shock wave travels through most media at a speed higher than ordinary wave. The propagation of a shock wave created by a laser impact over a metallic surface is considered here. In the process of Shock wave generation, a high-pressure surface level is reached using a nanosecond laser pulse that heats the surface of the material and generates adense plasma expansion. The pressure reaches few GPa so that shockwaves are generated and propagated in the bulk of the material. Whitham method, a powerful analytical method for shock waves, has been employed to obtain the analytical relations for shock velocity, shock strength and pressure behind the freely propagating shock. Numerical calculations have been performed for shock velocity, shock strength, pressure, adiabatic sound velocity, and compression behind the shock () and their variation with propagation distance have been discussed. A sharp decrease in shock velocity and pressure behind the shock whereas a steadily increasing shock strength with propagation distance has been observed. Particle velocity, adiabatic sound velocity and compression parameter also show a gradual decrease as the shock advances in the medium. Effect of overtaking disturbances has been evaluated by considering Yadav’s approach.