Analysis of sonic boom propagation based on the KZK equation

In this study, sonic boom propagation is simulated by solving the Khokhlov– Zabolotskaya-Kuznetsov (KZK) equation. The KZK equation accounts for the effects of diffraction, thermoviscous absorption, relaxation, geometrical spreading, inhomogeneity of the medium, axial convection, transverse convection, and nonlinearity. First, the wave propagation prediction based on the KZK equation without diffraction, propagation direction, and transverse terms is compared with that based on the augmented Burgers equation. The result shows good agreement, which proves the validity of the present KZK equation code. Second, the diffraction effect considered in the KZK equation is confirmed by the propagation analyses of sinusoidal planer waves. This result indicates that the proposed tool can simulate actual phenomenon more realistically. Third, propagation of the planer N-wave through turbulence fields is analyzed by the proposed tool. It reveals the capability of the proposed tool to analyze sonic boom propagation considering turbulence effects. Finally, sonic boom propagation in real atmospheric condition is simulated by the proposed tool, and the pressure wave through the turbulence field is estimated.