Analysis of Lagrangian gauge measurements of simple and nonsimple plane waves

Abstract

Analysis of multiple, embedded gauge measurements of large-amplitude plane waves is addressed. Although many of the developments are general, the emphasis is on the determination of stress and density fields from particle velocity measurements. Practical considerations for embedded particle velocity and stress gauge measurements are discussed. Difficulties with existing analysis methods are described. The use of wave similarity as a criterion for determining the preferred analytic approach is emphasized. Simple waves are easily analyzed using the approaches suggested by Fowles, Cowperthwaite, and Williams J. Appl. Phys. 41, 360 (1970); 42, 456 (1971)]. Nonsimple waves, of broader interest, are best analyzed using surfaces explicitly fit to measured histories and directly integrating the conservation equations. Analytic and numerical examples of the surface-fitting procedure are presented. Uniqueness and verification of calculated results in past and present work are discussed.