A survey of weakly-nonlinear acoustic models: 1910-2009

A chronological survey of the weakly-nonlinear acoustic equations put forth between the years 1910-2009 is presented. The derivation, properties, and historical development of these models, along with the approximation scheme on which they are based, are discussed. Connections between the models are also discussed and errors/omissions in the literature are noted and, in some cases, corrected. Brief chronologies of the weakly-nonlinear models that describe propagation in relaxing fluids, bubbly liquids, and fluids that saturate porous solids are also presented.