Abstract: This paper is a comprehensive report on the study of shock sound wave （N wave） at home and abroad.
Firstly, the development history of N wave research and the present case researched on the theory and experiment, specialy on the N wave source are described.
Secondly, the relationship between N wave Length or shock overpressure and propagation distance, the spectrum about N wave, the relationship between shock rising time and overpressure and Nonlinear threshold are pointed.
Finally, the application of N wave research on military affairs, exploring mine, detection of defects, Acoustics and medical science are introduced.