Effect of Surface Roughness on Characteristics of Spherical Shock Waves
Abstract
A small-scale laboratory investigation has been conducted in which direct observation of shock-wave movement with time was made and the effects of surface roughness on the characteristics of spherical shock waves were determined. Data were obtained with 15-gram pentolite charges at four heights of burst both for a smooth surface and for a surface completely covered with pyramid-shaped roughness elements. The observation,,resulted in determinations of shock peak overpressure and Mach stem height as a function of distance for each test condition. Comparison of the smooth-surface data with those obtained for the extremely rough condition showed a small reduction in the shock peak overpressures at the surface for all burst heights. The effect of extreme surface roughness on the Mach stem formation and growth was to delay the formation at the greatest charge height and to lower the height of the Mach stem for all heights of burst.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 1959
- Accession Number
- ADA395014
Entities
People
- Donald R. Mcfarland
- Paul W. Huber
Organizations
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration