Theoretical and numerical aspects of nonlinear reflection–transmission phenomena in acoustics

Abstract

Equations of nonlinear acoustic wave motion in a non-classical lossy medium are used to derive generalised formulas describing the phenomena of reflection and transmission. Integral, non-local operators that are caused by the nonlinear effects in wave propagation and occur in reflection and transmission formulas are given in a form in which classical linear reflection and transmission coefficients are explicitly separated. Numerical calculations are performed for a simplified, one-dimensional wave travelling in a lossless medium. These simplifications reveal the pure effect of the impact of nonlinearities on the reflection and transmission phenomena. We consider adjacent media with different properties to illustrate various aspects of the problem. In particular, even if two media have the same linear impedance and the same material modules of the third order, we observe an explicit effect of the nonlinearity on the reflection phenomenon. The theoretical predictions are confirmed qualitatively by numerical calculations based on the finite difference time domain method.