The book is concerned with mathematical modelling of supersonic and hyper sonic flows about bodies. Permanent interest in this topic is stimulated, first of all, by aviation and aerospace engineering. The designing of aircraft and space vehicles requires a more precise prediction of the aerodynamic and heat transfer characteristics. Together with broadening of the flight condition range, this makes it necessary to take into account a number of gas dynamic and physical effects caused by rarefaction, viscous-inviscid interaction, separation, various physical and chemical processes induced by gas heating in the intensive bow shock wave. The flow field around a body moving at supersonic speed can be divided into three parts, namely, shock layer, near wake including base flow, and far wake. The shock layer flow is bounded by the bow shock wave and the front and lat eral parts of the body surface. A conventional approach to calculation of shock layer flows consists in a successive solution of the inviscid gas and boundary layer equations. When the afore-mentioned effects become important, implementation of these models meets difficulties or even becomes impossible. In this case, one has to use a more general approach based on the viscous shock layer concept.

that about 100 journals are required to yield fifty In 1957, the Thermophysical Properties Research Center (TPRC) of Purdue University, under the percent. But that other fifty percent! It is scattered leadership of its founder, Professor Y. S. Touloukian, through more than 3500 journals and other docu began to develop a coordinated experimental, ments, often items not readily identifiable or ob theoretical, and literature review program covering tainable. Over 75,000 references are now in the files. a set of properties of great importance to science and technology. Over the years, this program has grown Thus, the man who wants to use existing data, steadily, producing bibliographies, data compila rather than make new measurements himself, faces tions and recommendations, experimental measure a long and costly task if he wants to assure himself ments, and other output. The series of volumes for that he has found all the relevant results. More often which these remarks constitute a foreword is one of than not, a search for data stops after one or two these many important products. These volumes are a results are found-or after the searcher decides he monumental accomplishment in themselves, re has spent enough time looking. Now with the quiring for their production the combined knowledge appearance of these volumes, the scientist or engineer who needs these kinds of data can consider himself and skills of dozens of dedicated specialists. The Thermophysical Properties Research Center de very fortunate.