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I. INTRODUCTION Purpose and Scope At the request of the National Academy of Sciences' Committee on SST-Sonic Boom, the Subcommittee on Physical Effects has undertaken to examine the current status of matters relating to "structural" response to sonic booms and to report what further research should be conducted. "People" response to sonic booms or noise is currently considered an important factor which may determine the degree to which commercial over-land super- sonic flights will be made. For the purposes of this report, it is assumed that such flights will be made. Conduct of Study Work on this study was initiated by reviewing data available in draft and final reports of prior Federal Aviation Agency-, National Aeronautics and Space Administration-, and National Sonic Boom Evaluation Office-sponsored sonic boom tests, including the recently concluded Edwards AFB program. Other related material such as data available from the on-going Department of the Air Force operational-suitability testing of the SR-71 was also reviewed. Additionally, several Subcommittee meetings were held to consider carefully many facets of the "structural" response problem, including shock diffraction, meteorology, and topography and ground reflection of shock waves. Organization of Report This report comprises three sections: This INTRODUCTION; DISCUSSION of the basis of the physical effects research program and of its several elements; CON- CLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS.
