Echoes of impact: Unraveling the sonic boom

This study examines the impact of sonic booms on urban communities and architectural structures, specifically focusing on how these intense sound waves interact with buildings. Sonic booms, typically generated by aircraft exceeding the speed of sound, pose potential risks and disturbances to structural integrity and community well-being. To better understand these interactions in detail, this study employs advanced ray tracing methods, a technique used in acoustics to model how sound waves propagate through different environments. A few modifications and additions were made thorough python to the existing ray tracing code that allowed for a more precise simulation of the waves’ behavior when encountering buildings. The study’s findings aim to provide deeper insight into the mitigation strategies that can be employed to protect structures and/or build better aircraft that can minimize sonic boom or better yet produce sonic thump.