A kinetic model for a reactive gas flow: steady detonation and speeds of sound

Within discrete kinetic theory, steady detonation wave solutions are here characterized for a reacting hydrogen‐oxygen system. Using a suitable kinetic model, the so‐called velocity problem is first solved, finding the von Neumann and equilibrium final states, as well as the intermediate states of partial reaction. On the basis of the sonic properties of the flow at the equilibrium final state, the boundary problem is treated in order to characterize the following flow connecting the final state to the rear boundary. Some numerical results of the detonation problem are provided for the two‐way autocatalytic reactions OH+M⇄H+O+M. The Hugoniot diagram of the model is carried out; the profile of the pressure is drawn and the detonation wave thickness is represented for different detonation wave velocities.