Published online by Cambridge University Press: 28 July 2016
It is usual when plotting characteristic diagrams for unsteady flow fields to assume a constant ratio of specific heats. In the general theory of characteristics developed by Guderley the variable specific heats are introduced into the calculation of the characteristic constants. In the following method the variation in the ratio of the specific heats is included directly into the slope of the state characteristics. The position diagram may then be plotted directly by the usual techniques.