The Flow Field Induced by a Blast Wave Traversing on a Convex Curved Wall

This work studied the flow field induced by a blast wave traversing on a circular geometry. This was with a view to explaining the transient development of the complex flow structure that is formed when there is explosion that propagates a shock wave. Tests were conducted in a large scale experimental shock tube on a 2 0 0 mm diameter wall using a range of incident shock Mach numbers between 1 : 4 and 1 : 6. Schlieren optical system was set up to capture the images of interaction and the pressure history were recorded at different locations along the curvature. The results show series of lambda-shaped shocklets that later coalesced into a second shock. A shear layer evolved from the separation point and terminated by a vortex which enlarges as the diffraction process progresses. The flow later becomes unstable with two turbulent patches identified around the separation point. The present study gives information that is very useful in designing devices for the attenuation of blast waves.