Statistics of acoustic waves propagating through turbulent media

Abstract

Propagation of acoustic waves through atmospheric turbulence is relevant to different problems : outdoor sound propagation, blast waves generated from explosions or gunshots, propagation of sonic booms. While propagating in turbulent air, acoustic waves are distorted by the combined effects of diffraction and scattering induced by atmospheric inhomogeneities. Accurately controlled experiments are needed to validate theoretical models for sound propagation in inhomogeneous media. In this paper, probability distribution functions will be presented for linear and nonlinear acoustic wave propagation through thermal or kinematic turbulence. Experimental data will be compared with numerical simulation using parabolic approaches. [Work supported by the Labex CeLyA of Universite de Lyon, operated by the French National Research Agency (ANR-10-LABX-0060/ ANR-11- IDEX-0007).]Propagation of acoustic waves through atmospheric turbulence is relevant to different problems : outdoor sound propagation, blast waves generated from explosions or gunshots, propagation of sonic booms. While propagating in turbulent air, acoustic waves are distorted by the combined effects of diffraction and scattering induced by atmospheric inhomogeneities. Accurately controlled experiments are needed to validate theoretical models for sound propagation in inhomogeneous media. In this paper, probability distribution functions will be presented for linear and nonlinear acoustic wave propagation through thermal or kinematic turbulence. Experimental data will be compared with numerical simulation using parabolic approaches. [Work supported by the Labex CeLyA of Universite de Lyon, operated by the French National Research Agency (ANR-10-LABX-0060/ ANR-11- IDEX-0007).]