AN INVESTIGATION OF THE EFFECTS OF GRAVITY ON CRATER FORMATION IN A COHESIONLESS MEDIUM
Abstract
An experimental investigation was conducted on the effects of gravity on explosion crater formation. Accompanying the presentation of the experimental results is a discussion of gravity effects on the cratering processes of compaction, scouring, spalling, and gas acceleration. The discussion suggests that gravity influences the shear resistance of the medium and the range of the particle throwout and hence should influence the crater formation. To test this hypothesis, an experiment was conducted in a medium of dry silica sand using a sixgrain electrically initiated squib as the explosive source. Craters were formed under 0.17 g, 0.38 g, 1.0 g, and 2.5 g conditions and at depths of burst ranging from surface to five inches. The statistical t- test was used to determine if the crater depth and diameter were affected by the gravity field. Crater dimensions versus depth of burst (DOB) were compared for the different gravity fields to study the effect on the optimum and maximum DOB. An equation expressing crater dimensions as a decreasing exponential function of increasing gravity was assumed. Parameters of the exponential function were adjusted to achieve the best fit in the least-squares sense.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jul 01, 1965
- Accession Number
- AD0625391
Entities
People
- David Jens Teal
- Leon Karol Moraski
Organizations
- Air Force Institute of Technology