A shock capturing application of the finite element method

The paper is concerned with the development of finite element algorithms for the solution of viscous compressible flow problems with possible embedded shocks and recirculation regions. As a first step, the calculation in Cartesian coordinates of uniform flow on a rectangular region which encounters an embedded oblique shock with known turning angle is considered. A code is developed which is then used for computation of the boattail plume simulator problem in cylindrical coordinates. Oblique shock calculations are performed and the results are compared with a known finite difference solution.