Technical note

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Inversion of the Prandtl-Meyer relation

I. M. HALL
Department of the Mechanics of Fluids,
University of Manchester

SUMMARY ASYMPTOTIC FORMULAE FOR M

A simple rational fraction is derived which gives the Mach For small B equation (1) can be expanded as a series in
number with an error of less than 0-05 per cent for a given powers of /3. Reversion of this series gives B as a series in
value of the Prandtl-Meyer function. powers of v2/3 which can easily be recast as an equivalent
series for M, i.e.:
INTRODUCTION
In the isentropic expansion from sonic conditions through M = 1 + X«„y" (5)
i
a simple wave in two-dimensional flow the turning angle v
is related to the Mach number M by the Prandtl-Meyer where
relation.
a/3
(6)
v = — tan-'Afi-tan' 1 /? (1) v.v
A
and v,x, the maximum value of i>, is given by
where

2
B = x / M - ! and A = r- 1
(2)
v^=
77

H
The coefficients av a2 and <h a r e given in Table I.
(7)

•y+1 For large (3 equation (1) can be expanded in powers of

In many applications it is necessary to obtain the value /3 - 1 . Reversion of this series gives
of M for a given value of v. One approach is to use the
K
Newton-Raphson method to obtain an iterative formula. M= + 2A„(l-y)" (8)
Rewriting equation (1) in the form
where
1
F ( J 8 ) = l t a n { A ( i - + tan- /3)}-i3 = 0 . (3)
A

and using the standard procedure produces the iterative

K-

or, for y = 7/5,

*K) (9)

formula X = 1-464009 (10)

/3„+i = /3„ + <4)

(l-A 2 )/3„ 2
COMPOSITE EXPANSION FOR M
Although this gives /3 to an accuracy of several signifi-
cant figures after only a few iterations it still requires the A composite expansion which has the correct behaviour
repeated calculation of the functions tan and tan- 1 where- at the singularity at y = 1 and which also has the correct
as a polynomial or rational fraction approximation for M asymptotic behaviour near y = 0 is
would require much less computing time. __ \ + (K-\)y » „
Fraser m quotes polynomial approximations which give M= + 2 c„y" (ID
i —y i
M to an accuracy of 0 1 % over limited ranges for -y = 7/5
which were obtained by least squares curve fitting using where
Chebyshev polynomials. A rational fraction approximation
is derived below which give a more accurate value of M cn = a„-K (12)
at any point in the whole range of M from 1 to oo. The 3
Terminating the series after the term c3y gives M to
basis of the derivation is to obtain an expression which has an accuracy of better than 0-2% over the whole range.
the correct asymptotic behaviour at both ends of the range. The accuracy can be improved, however, by recasting the
The numerical values refer to the particular case when first three terms of the series as a rational fraction, i.e.:
y = 7/5 but the coefficients are also given as functions of
A so that the formula can be used for other values of y I n=c_±i\+Ayl
(13)
if required. f "y l+By + Ky)

Aeronautical Journal September 1975 Hall 417

 where This expression gives M with an error of less than
0-05% over the whole range which corresponds to an
c3 uncertainty in v of less than 0-015 degrees.
B-- and A=B + (14)
If a more accurate value is required, one application
of equation (4) will give M correct to eight significant
Inserting the rational fraction into equation (11) and re- figures.
writing gives
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1 + d$ + d.f- + d3y:>
M= (15)
1 + exy + e2>>2 REFERENCE
1. FRASER, S. M. Calculation of Mach number from given
For :l-4 turning angle in supersonic isentropic flow. The Aero-
1 + 1 -3604>> + 0-0962/ - 0-5127/ nautical Journal, Vol 79, No 770, pp 95-96, February
M= (16) 1975.
1-0-6722.V-0-3278/

TABLE I APPENDIX
For general y the coefficients dt and e{ in equation (15)
7 == 7/5 are given below in terms of K, which can be obtained
from equation (9), and the flj's, listed in Table I.
«,, c„
1
2 V™ 2-032646 0-568637 "1
K
«2-
a
3 + 8X e
-\){th- K)
1-790381 0-326372 («1
40 V™ <h <k-K
1 + 328A 2 +104\ 1
1-357039 -0106970
2800 («!-X)(fl,"-K) t+ K
a,-K
a3-K 1 -e.
Vx -1
' \1-A7 \2k(l+k)J

418 Hall Aeronautical Journal September 1975