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The blast waves from asymmetrical explosions

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 April 2006

K. W. Chiu ,
J. H. Lee  and
R. Knystautas
K. W. Chiu
Affiliation:
Department of Mechanical Engineering, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
J. H. Lee
Affiliation:
Department of Mechanical Engineering, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
R. Knystautas
Affiliation:
Department of Mechanical Engineering, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
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Abstract

From Whitham's ray-shock theory and the Brinkley-Kirkwood theory of shock propagation, a general theory for the propagation of asymmetrical blast waves of arbitrary shapes and strengths is developed in this paper. The general theory requires the simultaneous numerical solution of a set of partial differential equations and a pair of ordinary differential equations. If the shock shape is assumed to be known and remains invariant with time then the geometrical and the dynamical relationships in the theory can be decoupled. In this case the solution simply requires the integration of the ordinary differential equations governing the dynamics of the blast motion since the geometry is already known. As a specific example the asymmetrical blast waves generated by the rupture of a pressurized ellipsoid are studied. The peak pressure is calculated by assuming that the shock surface remains ellipsoidal for all times and that the peak overpressure decay rate of the blast depends on the local curvature. For weak shocks, it is found that the degree of directionality is more pronounced than for stronger shocks. For weak blasts the present theory agrees with the solution based on acoustic theory. Experimental results on the shock trajectories for asymmetrical blast waves generated by exploding wires are found to agree with the present theory.

Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Fluid Mechanics , Volume 82 , Issue 1 , 19 August 1977 , pp. 193 - 208
Copyright
© 1977 Cambridge University Press

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