[en] The paper investigates the collisionless shock structure over a wide range of Alfven Mach numbers (1< Msub(a)<3.5), with Msub(a) varying significantly along the radius. It is shown that at Msub(a)<1.5 the solitary waves propagate along the magnetic field while at Msub(a)>1.5 these waves become shock waves (in a region near the axis of the system, r< approximately 1 cm). The paper also presents data which show an overturning of the front at Msub(a)>approximatelyMsub(c) followed by plasma heating and wave destruction, i.e. damping of all field components, decreasing of Msub(a), widening of the front and conversion of the shock wave into plasma laminar flow. At mean Mach number (Msub(a)<2), a typical switch-on shock with the front separated from a piston has been registered in the region of parallel propagation. Oscillations (Btheta, Esub(r), Jsub(z)) with characteristic frequencies ω₁ approximately (ωsub(Be), ωsub(Bi)) have been identified ahead of the front and between the front and piston, of which those with frequency ω₁ were damped along r and z and disappeared upon the overturning of the front. (author)