Vibrational relaxation effects on the propagation of weak shock waves in the atmosphere

Abstract

The propagation of weak shock waves through the atmosphere has been modeled by a calculation incorporating finite amplitude effects, classical acoustic attenuation, and attenuation due to vibrational relaxation of nitrogen and oxygen. This calculation has been used to study the effect of varying atmospheric conditions on the overpressure decay, rise times, and spectral composition of weak shock waves. The necessity of including vibrational relaxation processes in calculations of shock wave parameters is demonstrated. [Work supported by Office of Naval Research, Atmospheric Sciences Division.]