The interaction of a shock with a vortex: Shock distortion and the production of acoustic waves

Numerical simulations of a shock interacting with a compressible vortex are presented for shocks and vortices of various relative strengths. The simulations show the effects of the vortex on the shock structure and the structure of the acoustic field generated by the shock–vortex interaction. A relatively weak vortex perturbs the transmitted shock only slightly, whereas a strong vortex leaves the transmitted shock with a structure corresponding to either a regular or Mach reflection. The acoustic wave generated by the interaction consists of two components: a ‘‘quadrupolar’’ component produced by the initial shock–vortex interaction and the complex reflected shock system. When these waves merge, they form the asymmetric structure seen in experiments.