Acoustic shock and acceleration waves in selected inhomogeneous fluids
arXiv:1711.09451 · doi:10.1016/j.mechrescom.2017.11.003
Abstract
Acoustic shock and acceleration waves in inhomogeneous fluids are investigated using both analytical and numerical methods. In the context of start-up signaling problems, and based on linear acoustics theory, we study the propagation of such waveforms in the atmosphere and in fluids that possess a periodic ambient density profile. It is shown that vertically-running shock and acceleration waves in the atmosphere suffer amplitude growth. In contrast, those in the periodic-density fluid have bounded amplitudes that exhibit periodic, but non-trivial, oscillations; this is illustrated via a series of numerically-generated profile-evolution plots, which were computed using the PyClaw software package.
9 pages, 4 figures, elsarticle class; accepted for publication in Mechanics Research Communications for the special issue in memoriam G. A. Maguin; v2 corrects minor typographical errors