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Nonlinear acoustics

What is nonlinear acoustics? A clear definition from the acoustics and sound section of our glossary, with 12 related terms, tools to try and further reading.

Definition of Nonlinear acoustics

Nonlinear acoustics (NLA) is a branch of physics and acoustics dealing with sound waves of sufficiently large amplitudes. Large amplitudes require using full systems of governing equations of fluid dynamics (for sound waves in liquids and gases) and elasticity (for sound waves in solids). These equations are generally nonlinear, and their traditional linearization is no longer possible. The solutions of these equations show that, due to the effects of nonlinearity, sound waves are being distorted as they travel.

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What is Nonlinear acoustics?

Nonlinear acoustics (NLA) is a branch of physics and acoustics dealing with sound waves of sufficiently large amplitudes.

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