Stress Wave Propagation in Unsaturated Sands. Volume 1. Centrifuge Modeling

Abstract

Explosive model testing was conducted using a geotechnical centrifuge in order to simulate prototype stresses and ground motions in a representative cohesionless backfill. Models were constructed of sand and compacted moist to a constant void ratio using a vibratory technique. Exploding detonators were used to simulate contained bombs in the backfill material. The objective of this study was to determine the influence of moisture content, at the time of backfill compact ion, on blast induced stress wave propagation. Models were constructed to 1/18.9 and 1/26.3 scales. Explosives consisted of 1031 mg and 350 mg of PBX 9407 and were buried to depths of 7.6 cm and 5.4 cm respectively. These scaled models simulated prototype charges of 6.9 kg and 6.4 kg (7.8 kg and 7.3 kg TNT equivalent) at a depth of burial of 1.4 meters. Attenuation coefficients (n) show some influence with respect to saturation. Peak stress and peak particle acceleration intercepts at a scaled distance of one are lowest at 0 and 53 percent saturations and are maximum at 35 percent saturation. Peak particle velocity intercepts are lowest at 0 and 70 percent saturations and again are maximum at 35 percent saturation.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Apr 01, 1993
Accession Number
ADA279115

Entities

People

  • Andy J. Walsh
  • Wayne A. Charlie

Organizations

  • Colorado State University

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Civil Engineering
  • Engineering
  • Explosives
  • Ground Shock
  • Groundwater
  • Materials
  • Mechanics
  • Modulus Of Elasticity
  • Moisture Content
  • Particles
  • Physical Properties
  • Recording Systems
  • Shear Modulus
  • Stress Waves
  • Stresses
  • Wave Propagation

Readers

  • Explosive Engineering.
  • Geotechnical Engineering.