Shock detection from computational fluid dynamics results

In complex flow regimes, it may be dimcult for an analyst to find the location of shock diecontinuities within a Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) solution. They do not correspond to locations where the math number is unity, and the high gradients associated with the discontinuity can be dimcult to detect because of numerical smoothing performed in order to obtain the solution. An algorithm is introduced that uses the flow physics to locate shocks in transient and steady state solutions. The test was validated with simple one and two dimensional models, then extended to more realistic three dimensional flows. A set of flltering algorithms was developed to remove any false shock indications. Results indicate that both the stationary and transient shock flnding algorithms accurately locate shocks, but need Altering to compensate for a lack of sharpness in C&‘D discontinuities.