Experimental and Numerical Study of Blast-Structure Interaction

Blast wave interaction with structures is a complex phenomenon. Not only are the fluid mechanics and combustion physics involved in the blast wave dynamics difficult to correctly model, but also the interaction with a structure, the structure's response to the dynamic loading, and the structure's influence on the blast wave propagation itself. Clearly, blast waves propagating on nearby structures fall under the category of three-dimensional scenarios featuring highly time dependent fluid and solid mechanics responses. In addition, the high strain rates imparted onto the structure make it difficult to extrapolate a low strain rate response of the structure. Here we present a novel small-scale experimental setup to study blast wave-structure interaction in a three-dimensional setting in which a cityscape is subjected to a dynamic blast wave event. The experimental turn-around time is very fast: less than two minutes per experiments. Experimental data is obtained via ultra-high-speed schlieren photography and local strain gages attached to the structure(s) of interest.