Experimental Study of Blast Wave Mitigation in Open Cell Foams

Abstract

In the present study, the experimental measurements have been conducted to investigate the blast wave mitigation in open cell natural rubber as well as synthetic (polyurethane) foams. The different blast strengths have been generated by exploding different quantity of explosive at 1.5 m standoff distance. The transmitted blast pressures through both foams have been recorded using a piezoelectric pressure sensor which was incorporated at the top surface of the composite plate. The modified blast wave parameters such as peak overpressure, positive phase duration, and impulse were investigated through both natural and synthetic foams at different blast pressure strengths. It was observed that the peak overpressure was significantly decreased, while positive phase duration and blast impulse were initially increased up to a certain extent, thereafter it was found to be decreased with increasing blast strengths. The results showed that a single layer of natural foam attributed 83 % peak overpressure mitigation, whereas double layer natural foam exhibited 90 % mitigation. Secondly, it was also found that natural rubber foam showed better performance in terms of impulse than that of synthetic foam.