This paper reports high resolution simulations using a fifth-order weighted essentially non-oscillatory (WENO) scheme with a third-order TVD Runge-Kutta time stepping method to examine the features of detonation front and physics ill square ducts. The simulations suggest that two and three-dimensional detonation wave front formations are greatly enhanced by the presence of transverse waves. The motion of transverse waves generates triple points (zones of high pressure and large velocity coupled together), which cause the detonation front to become locally overdriven and thus form "hot spots." The transversal motion of these hot spots maintains the detonation to continuously occur along form the whole front in two and three dimensions. The present simulations indicate that file influence of the transverse waves oil detonation is more profound in three dimensions and the pattern of quasi-steady detonation fronts also depends oil the duct size. For it "narrow" duct (4L x 4L where L is the half-reaction length), the detonation from displays it distinctive "spinning" motion about the axial direction with a well-defined period. For it wider duct (20L x 20L.), file detonation front exhibits a "rectangular mode" periodically. with the front displaying "convex" and "concave" shapes one following the other and the transverse waves oil the four walls being partly out-of-phase with each other. (C) 2008 The Combustion Institute. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.