Abstract
An object in the path of a blast wave generated by an explosion will experience a certain level of structural damage. The degree of destruction seen in a structure from a explosive blast wave is effected by three main parameters, (1) the force applied to the structure, (2) how long the force is acting on the structure, and (3) the specific geometric and material properties of the structure, or architectural surety. Structures capable of large lateral loads can be used for defense against explosions (terrorist threats). However, in order to fully predict the architectural surety of a structure, further investigation of the interaction of explosive blast waves with structures is required. The purpose of our analysis is to determine the efficiency of coupling energy from a blast wave to a simple structure. We performed some explosives tests and computer simulations to provide this analysis. In our experiments, the structures consisted of several free hanging steel plates at various distances from an explosion. The blast wave was generated by a sphere of TNT. We used a standard model to calculate the overpressure incident on this plates, we then calculated the shock energy coupled to the plates, we measured the overpressure at points near the plates (for calibration), we measured the effects of the blast wave on the plates (measured their displacement due to the blast), and we performed computer code calculations to predict the effect of the blast wave on the plates. The computational code Autodyn is currently being used at Sandia National Laboratories for various impact and blast loading problems. The code contains several simulation methods, including ALE (Arbitrary Langrangian Eulerian) simulation. Because explosive blast in air involves both expanding gases as well as solid/solid impacts, ALE codes typically provide better predictive capabilities.
Published Version
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