On the Theory of the Propagation of Plane, Finite Amplitude Waves in a Dissipative Fluid

The dissipationless theory for harmonic generation in an initially sinusoidal, plane, finite‐amplitude wave is used as a basis for calculation of the harmonic components of such a wave in a fluid with dissipation. The assumption used is shown to lead approximately to the relationships of the Fox and Wallace theory. The result is given as a Fourier series, with graphs of the first few harmonic components for two specific cases. The series representation is valid for distances X⩽L, where L is the discontinuity distance for the dissipationless case.