Abstract: A method for determining a pressure time history of a pressure wave originating from a vehicle traveling at or above supersonic speeds when the pressure wave undergoes a focusing due to convergence and intersection with a neighboring pressure wave originating from the vehicle is disclosed herein. The method includes, but is not limited to, solving a lossy nonlinear Tricomi equation with a processor and reporting an output from the processor containing a solution to the lossy nonlinear Tricomi equation. The lossy nonlinear Tricomi equation includes a variable relating to an actual atmospheric dissipative effect in a vicinity of the focusing. The solution includes, but is not limited to, a prediction of the pressure time history of the pressure wave as the pressure wave undergoes focusing. The prediction reflects the actual atmospheric dispersive and dissipative effects.

Abstract: A method and system are provided to weaken shock wave strength at leading edge surfaces of a vehicle in atmospheric flight. One or more flight-related attribute sensed along a vehicle's outer mold line are used to control the injection of a non-heated, non-plasma-producing gas into a local external flowfield of the vehicle from at least one leading-edge surface location along the vehicle's outer mold line. Pressure and/or mass flow rate of the gas so-injected is adjusted in order to cause a Rankine-Hugoniot Jump Condition along the vehicle's outer mold line to be violated.

Abstract: The present invention is an improved real-time, interactive sonic boom display for aircraft. By using physical properties obtained via various sensors and databases, the invention determines, in real-time, sonic boom impacts locations and intensities for aircraft traveling at supersonic speeds. The information is provided to a pilot via a display that lists a selectable set of maneuvers available to the pilot to mitigate sonic boom issues. Upon selection of a maneuver, the information as to the result of the maneuver is displayed and the pilot may proceed with making the maneuver, or provide new data to the system in order to calculate a different maneuver.