On the evolution equation for finite amplitude sound in relaxing media

Abstract

The evolution equation for finite amplitude acoustic waves in a relaxing medium is usually analyzed approximately or numerically. Attempts to find exact solutions to that equation using different approaches including classical and non-classical symmetries and conservation laws are described in this work. All obtained solutions are essentially non-limited in the space coordinate, and this fact had led to the proposition that validity of the initial equation in the general case should be revised. A correction of the evolution equation is proposed in the present work, and solutions in the form of weak shocks are derived for different boundary conditions.