Sonic (choked): \(M=1\) at the throat; upstream behaves subsonically, downstream follows the supersonic branch for \(A/A^*>1\).
Why Subsonic and Sonic curves may look identical under default settings:
When the chosen parameters \((M_{\mathrm{in}}, P_0, T_0, A_{\mathrm{in}}/A^*, A_{\mathrm{out}}/A^*)\) produce a
choked condition, both Subsonic and Sonic modes follow the same unique isentropic solution:
subsonic upstream, \(M=1\) at the throat, and supersonic downstream.
Therefore, under such default choking conditions, the pressure and velocity curves in both modes
appear nearly identical in the sub- and supra-nozzle regions.
To visualize a truly subsonic diffuser (no choking), lower \(M_{\mathrm{in}}\) or reduce the area ratios.
Example: set \(A_{\mathrm{in}}/A^*\) to about 2.1;
Subsonic mode then shows \(V\uparrow,P\downarrow\) upstream and \(V\downarrow,P\uparrow\) downstream,
while Sonic/Supersonic modes display a supersonic diffuser downstream \((V\uparrow,P\downarrow)\).
CME = Continuity · Momentum · Energy
The model enforces all three governing laws. The mass-flow rate (ṁ) is shown because it is the conserved
quantity in the Continuity equation (\(\rho V A = \dot m\)). Momentum and Energy are verified through
their residuals (RMS, Δmax), rather than displayed as standalone values.