Markers of nonlinearity in the interaction of an acoustical shock with a ramp

Abstract The various nonlinear effects attributed to the propagation and the interaction of an acoustical shock with a ramp are investigated in this paper. The prevalent use of linear approximations in acoustic source localization techniques is a limitation to the accurate localization prediction required in military contexts. To address this issue, our approach seeks to identify different markers of nonlinearity within the acoustical shock wave framework, enlightening their reflective characteristics and the underlying physics. This study investigates the complex interaction between a high-amplitude acoustic pulse and a ramp, focusing on the reflection patterns of an acoustical shock. In particular, the single parameter used for the reflection pattern assessment is enhanced beyond its conventional formulation. The development of an irregular reflection detection algorithm is presented and serves as a fundamental component for a spectral analysis operating Fourier decomposition enabling a reflection-type classification solely based on time-signal measurements. This work contributes to the broader understanding of acoustic shock interactions and offers insights into improving the accuracy of source localization techniques, especially in situations where linear assumptions may prove to be limited.