Abstract
Propagation characteristics of large amplitude (8–10 atm), initially sinusoidal, water-borne acoustic waves are experimentally investigated by a whole-field optical measurement method. The method used a schlieren optical system with a slit-type spatial filter. Images of the sound field were obtained which exhibited families of fringes corresponding to contours of constant acoustic pressure gradient. Sequences of these images were used to determine the propagation velocity of nulls, peaks, and valleys in the spatial acoustic pressure waveform. Amplitude-dependent variations in the local wave velocity were detected. The signs and magnitudes of the variations were in agreement with predictions of approximate theories of finite-amplitude wave propagation. The results demonstrate the feasibility of applying this optical measurement method to studies of finite-amplitude waves under conditions where theoretical methods fail.
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