TNT equivalent of the shock wave energy generated during the supersonic flight of an aircraft

Abstract

To assess the impact on human health of the sonic boom that occurs when an aircraft is flying at supersonic speed, and, accordingly, to solve the problem of noise reduction by optimizing the aircraft design, it is proposed to evaluate the shock wave energy using the TNT equivalent of a cylindrical explosion. An example of calculating the shock wave energy during flights of F4 and F18 aircraft at different altitudes is considered. To calculate the evolution of an acoustic pulse during its propagation from the boundary of the shock wave transition to the acoustic one, the wave equation and its solution are used, taking into account the inhomogenei-ty of the atmosphere, nonlinear effects, absorption and expansion of the wave front, as well as the results of ground-based measurements of acoustic pulses. The results of calculations of the dependence of the explosion energy on the flight altitude, as well as on the type of aircraft are explained on the basis of the formula for the atmospheric resistance force.