Measurements of small-caliber ballistic shock waves in air

Megahertz bandwidth pressure measurements of airborne ballistic shock waves from bullets are presented which confirm weak-shock theoretical predictions of waveform shape, period, amplitude, and the scaling of these quantities with shock propagation distance. Wavefront distortions and amplitude variations are quantified versus shock propagation distances of 3-55 m and agree with predictions based on linear acoustic propagation through simple turbulence models. Observed rise times probably exhibit a mix of turbulence and molecular relaxation effects. (C) 1997 Acoustical Society of America.