Adaptive simulations solving the Navier-Stokes equations have been conducted in order to get a better understanding on the detonation initiation and propagation in a stoichiometric H-2/O-2/Ar supersonic mixture with boundary layer. The detonation is initiated by a continuous hot jet. When reflecting on the wall, the jet induced bow shock interacts with the boundary layer and forms the shock boundary layer interaction phenomena, while in Euler result the bow shock forms Mach reflection. The investigation shows that the Navier-Stokes simulation result is structurally in better agreement with the experiment compared with that of the inviscid Euler simulation result. The bow shock interacts with the separation shock, forming the shock induced combustion behind the interaction zone. Then the combustion front couples with shock and forms Mach stem induced detonation. The Mach stem induced detonation continues to getting higher and propagating upstream, initiating the main flow. The initiated partial detonation exists with the separation shock induced combustion front, forming an "oblique shock induced combustion-partial detonation" structure in the main flow. The investigation on the influence of free stream Mach number further confirms that the boundary layer has an important influence on detonation initiation. The parametric studies also show that there exists a free stream Mach number range to initiate the partial detonation in supersonic combustible flow successfully. (C) 2018 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.