In the high energy gas flows, associating high velocities and high temperatures, physical and chemical processes such as molecular vibrational excitation, dissociation, ionisation or various reactions take palce and deeply influence the structure of the flows. The characteristic times of these processes have the same order of magnitude as aerodynamic characteristic times so that these reactive media are generally in thermodynamic and chemical non-equilibrium. This book presents a general introductory study of these media. In the first part their fundamental statistical aspects are described, starting from their discrete structure and taking into account the interactions between elementary particles: the transport phenomena, relaxation and kinetics as well as their coupling are thus analysed and illustrated by many examples. The second part deals with the macroscopic re-entry bodies. Finally the experimental aspects of these flows, their simulations in shock tube and shock tunnel are described as well as their application, particularly in the aero- spatial domain.
This book is intended for researchers and students that have acquired basic knowledge in thermodynamics, statistical physics and fluid mechanics. It must also interest the engineers engaged in research and industry related to the applications of the reactive flows, in particular in the aerospace field and, more generally, all the researchers trying to simulate and calculate complex reactive flows.

The high temperatures generated in gases by shock waves give rise to physical and chemical phenomena such as molecular vibrational excitation, dissociation, ionization, chemical reactions and inherently related radiation. In continuum regime, these processes start from the wave front, so that generally the gaseous media behind shock waves may be in a thermodynamic and chemical non-equilibrium state. This book presents the state of knowledge of these phenomena. Thus, the thermodynamic properties of high temperature gases, including the plasma state are described, as well as the kinetics of the various chemical phenomena cited above. Numerous results of measurement and computation of vibrational relaxation times, dissociation and reaction rate constants are given, and various ionization and radiative mechanisms and processes are presented. The coupling between these different phenomena is taken into account as well as their interaction with the flow-field. Particular points such as the case of rarefied flows and the inside of the shock wave itself are also examined. Examples of specific non-equilibrium flows are given, generally corresponding to those encountered during spatial missions or in shock tube experiments.

The high temperatures generated in gases by shock waves give rise to physical and chemical phenomena such as molecular vibrational excitation, dissociation, ionization, chemical reactions and inherently related radiation. In continuum regime, these processes start from the wave front, so that generally the gaseous media behind shock waves may be in a thermodynamic and chemical non-equilibrium state. This book presents the state of knowledge of these phenomena. Thus, the thermodynamic properties of high temperature gases, including the plasma state are described, as well as the kinetics of the various chemical phenomena cited above. Numerous results of measurement and computation of vibrational relaxation times, dissociation and reaction rate constants are given, and various ionization and radiative mechanisms and processes are presented. The coupling between these different phenomena is taken into account as well as their interaction with the flow-field. Particular points such as the case of rarefied flows and the inside of the shock wave itself are also examined. Examples of specific non-equilibrium flows are given, generally corresponding to those encountered during spatial missions or in shock tube experiments.

Recently, there have been significant advances in the fields of high-enthalpy hypersonic flows, high-temperature gas physics, and chemistry shock propagation in various media, industrial and medical applications of shock waves, and shock-tube technology. This series contains all the papers and lectures of the 19th International Symposium on Shock Waves held in Marseille in 1993. They are published in four topical volumes, each containing papers on related topics, and preceded by an overview wrtitten by a leading international expert. The volumes may be purchased independently.

Recently, there have been significant advances in the fields of high-enthalpy hypersonic flows, high-temperature gas physics, and chemistry shock propagation in various media, industrial and medical applications of shock waves, and shock-tube technology. This series contains all the papers and lectures of the 19th International Symposium on Shock Waves held in Marseille in 1993. They are published in four topical volumes, each containing papers on related topics, and preceded by an overview written by a leading international expert. The volumes may be purchased independently.

Recently, there have been significant advances in the fields of high-enthalpy hypersonic flows, high-temperature gas physics, and chemistry shock propagation in various media, industrial and medical applications of shock waves, and shock-tube technology. This series contains all the papers and lectures of the 19th International Symposium on Shock Waves held in Marseille in 1993. They will be published in four topical volumes, each containing papers on related topics, and preceded by an overview written by a leading international expert. The volumes may be purchased independently.

Recently, there have been significant advances in the fields of high-enthalpy hypersonic flows, high-temperature gas physics, and chemistry shock propagation in various media, industrial and medical applications of shock waves, and shock-tube technology. This series contains all the papers and lectures of the 19th International Symposium on Shock Waves held in Marseille in 1993. They are published in four topical volumes, each containing papers on related topics, and preceded by an overview written by a leading international expert. The volumes may be purchased independently.