A numerical method for general finite amplitude wave propagation in two dimensions and its application to spark pulses

The general equations of finite amplitude acoustics, including classical absorption effects and second‐order nonlinear effects, are written in a form suitable for two‐dimensional numerical solution. A finite difference scheme then is applied to numerically solve the equations. To demonstrate the method, examples are given of spherical free‐field propagation, normal plane reflection from a hard surface, and oblique spherical reflection from a hard surface for spark pulses. This method has an advantage over Burgers’ equation methods, one‐way wave equation methods, and Pestorius type algorithms in that it can predict the interaction of multiple finite amplitude acoustic waves at arbitrary propagation angles.