Study the comparative behavior of different materials under explosive conditions

Abstract

Instantaneous release of energy and pressure waves is always associated with every blast and explosion. The amount and the rate of release of energy depend upon the type and nature of explosive employed. When such events take place inadvertently or in the form of terrorist attacks, it causes great damage. Diminishing the amplitude and intensity of the energy and pressure waves before it interacts with human beings or assets has always been a challenge. The capacity and the rate of absorbing or reflecting the blast by a particular target or a system decide its importance. Different materials are studied to understand the influence of explosive conditions on their response and behavior. Being commonly used in our daily lives, the materials like, steel, aluminum, rubber etc. assume greater significance in providing different degree of protection against blast loading. These materials and their applications are constantly being explored from scientific point of view to understand their full potential and in finding their suitable combinations and variants to best meet the desired purpose. Designing an effective protective structure needs a good understanding of the various parameters associated with it like its capability to safely absorb the blast energy as well as the mechanical and physical behavior of the materials used. In this paper the behavior and the response of single 4 mm thick mild steel plate (having yield strength as 350 MPa) is studied against the different combinations of rubber with yield strength of 145 MPa and plates of same mild steel keeping the total overall thickness same as 4 mm. In all the cases, the standoff distance, the charge quantity and type of explosive were kept same as 100 mm, 100 gms and TNT explosive charge respectively. Various parameters like energy absorption, velocity, displacement are observed to understand and to quantify the response of the materials.