Nonlinear Distortion of Traveling Waves in Non-Uniform Gasdynamic Flows

A theory of nonlinear wave propagation in quasi-one-dimensional non-uniform gasdynamic flows is developed in order to explain the effect of flow non-uniformity on nonlinear processes such as shock formation and wave quenching. The methodology used is the tracking of the propagating wave front in a hyperbolic system whose evolution is governed by a first order nonlinear ordinary differential equation (Riccati's equation). The present work is an...