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Mach stem formation in outdoor measurements of acoustic shocks
Kevin M Leete1, Kent L Gee1, Tracianne B Neilsen1
1Department of Physics and Astronomy, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah 84602, USA kevinmatthewleete@gmail.com, kentgee@byu.edu, tbn@byu.edu.
Abstract:
Mach stem formation during outdoor acoustic shock propagation is investigated using spherical oxyacetylene balloons exploded above pavement. The location of the transition point from regular to irregular reflection and the path of the triple point are experimentally resolved using microphone arrays and a high-speed camera. The transition point falls between recent analytical work for weak irregular reflections and an empirical relationship derived from large explosions.

