Research in Close-In Blast Loading From High Explosives.
Abstract
This work was performed under contract to the U.S. Army Ballistic Research Laboratory (now the U.S. Army Research Laboratory) by FMC Corporation. It involved the use of experimental and theoretical means to study blast loading caused by the detonation of high explosive (HE) at close-in ranges. Close-in blast loading from HE is generally defined as explosive products interacting with a target during the time that the HE has expanded between 3 and 50 times its original volume. The impulse generated from close-in blast loading can cause gross structural damage to light armored vehicles, and is a serious threat to the vehicle and its crew. Precision, right circular cylindrical, top-detonated HE charges with a nominal mass of one kilogram were used for all experiments. Pressure measurements were taken on the surface of a nonresponding flat plate using a variety of gages. Predictions of the blast loading on the plate were made with a hydrodynamic computer code. Very good repeatability was experienced with some gage types, while others did not work well or had too low a signal relative to noise to be fully effective. The frequency response of the gages was also addressed. Firings against a ballistic pendulum were conducted using bare explosive charges, as well as charges with different casing thickness to quantify the effect of casing thickness on total integrated impulse. A full set of all data taken is included in the appendices to serve as documentation of the work.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 01, 1996
- Accession Number
- ADA317104
Entities
People
- Bruce L. Morris
- Coye T. Vincent
- James D. Walker
- James E. Drotleff
- Scott A. Mullin
Organizations
- FMC Corporation