Propagation of a shock wave front across a curved fluid-solid interface

Geometric optics, or the ray theory, is used to investigate the effect of pulse reflection and transmission at a curved fluid-solid interface. In particular, the problem of a plane pressure pulse, supported by an acoustic fluid, impinging on a plane symmetrical elastic body whose cross section is delineated by circular arcs is considered. The response of the solid is determined along its center line to reflection at the back interface with another fluid. Consideration of the special case in which the fluid densities are zero indicates that special care must be exercised in dealing with the in vacuo problem, and particularly in specifying the boundary conditions in that instance.