Wavefront expansions and nonlinear hyperbolic waves (Q1194149)

Certain formal methods developed in previous papers to study linear wave propagation are adopted to treat the class of nonlinear problems involving hyperbolic waves in stratified and possibly relaxing media. Numerical results based upon these methods are obtained. The wavefront- based method is accurate, requires an order of magnitude less computer time, and offers a clearer understanding of the underlying wave process. The presented numerical results are obtained for a particular case of interest and both these results and those obtained by the method of characteristics are presented graphically.