Propagation of Plane Waves of Finite Amplitude in Inhomogeneous Media with Applications to Vertical Propagation in the Ocean

摘要

In the report the authors developed an approximate theory of propagation of plane progressive waves of finite amplitude in a medium with density, sound speed, and parameter of nonlinearity (B/A) varying along the path of propagation. It was found that this variation has two effects upon the wave. The first is a change in amplitude due to the variation in the impedance of the medium. The second is a change in the distance scale over which nonlinear effects develop. Once these two effects are accounted for, then this theory reduces in form to the theory of propagation in a homogeneous fluid, which theory is well developed.