A shock tube facility to generate blast loading on structures. Issue 3 (September 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Aune, Vegard; Fagerholt, Egil; Langseth, Magnus; Børvik, Tore
• Other Names: Tyas Andrew guest-editor.; Rigby Samuel E guest-editor.; Clarke Samuel D guest-editor.
• Is Part Of: International journal of protective structures. Volume 7:Issue 3(2016)
• Page Start: 340
• Page End: 366
• Publication Date: 2016-09
• Subjects: Experimental techniques -- shock tube -- far-field airblast loading -- three-dimensional digital image correlation -- fluid–structure interaction; Buildings -- Protection -- Periodicals; Buildings -- Blast effects -- Periodicals; Building, Bombproof -- Periodicals; Structural analysis (Engineering) -- Periodicals; Shock (Mechanics) -- Periodicals; 624.176
• DOI: 10.1177/2041419616666236
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2041-4196

Abstract

This study evaluates the performance of a new shock tube facility used to produce blast loading in controlled laboratory environments. The facility was found to generate a planar shock wave over the tube cross section by measuring the pressure distribution on a massive steel plate located at the end of the tube. The properties of the shock wave proved to be a function of driver length and driver pressure, and the positive phase of the measured pressure–time histories was similar to those generated from actual far-field explosive detonations. However, the shock tube is also suited to investigate fluid–structure interaction effects and the behaviour of materials in blast events. This was demonstrated using a three-dimensional digital image correlation technique to measure the deformation field of thin steel plates. Synchronization of the three-dimensional digital image correlation and pressure measurements enabled a thorough investigation of the entire experiment and identification of fluid–structure interaction effects. Finally, one-dimensional numerical simulations were performed to investigate the wave patterns during the experiments.