The Flow due to Impulsive Motion of a Wedge, II

Abstract

As a continuation of the previous study on the impulsive motion of an advancing wedge (J. Phys. Soc. Japan 10, 221 (1955)), we now consider the case in which the wedge is receding. The general features of both cases are similar. We now have rarefaction waves instead of the shock waves which played a fundamental role in the previous paper. The two limiting cases of small, and almost blunt, vertex angles are discussed analytically. The former is essentially the same as the corresponding case of the advancing wedge. On the other hand, the latter presents new features.