Evolution of Research – A Case Study

Many complex and fascinating flow features occur when a shock wave impinges on or around a surface. Understanding of these is important in view of the increasing application in a variety of fields, such as medicine and material modification, besides the more conventional fields of blast loading of structures and supersonic aerodynamics. This paper deals with some of the developments of research in the field of shock wave studies at the Flow Research Unit of the University of the Witwatersrand. It covers both successful and unsuccessful investigations and suggests those that still need further work.