Tables and Graphs of the Theoretical Peak Pressures, Energies, and Positive Impulses of Blast Waves in Air
Abstract
A theory of the propagation of shock waves from explosive sources was presented in OSRD Report No. 4814. In that report, a pair of ordinary differential equations for peak pressure and shock-wave energy as functions of the distance from the source were formulated from the equations of hydrodynamics by imposing a similarity restraint on the shape of the energy-time curve of the shock wave. Two-parameter families of peak pressure-distance, shock-wave energy-distance, and positive impulse-distance curves are obtained by the solution of these propagation equations. The parameters are conveniently chosen as the initial values of the pressure and shock-wave energy. In the present report, tables and graphs of the two-parameter families of curves for blast waves from explosive sources in air are presented. A method is outlined for the determination of the parameters from experimental values of the peak pressure and positive impulse over a limited range of distances from the source. Estimates of the properties of the blast wave produced by TNT are obtained in this manner, and tentative peak pressure-distance and impulse-distance curves for all distances from the charge are constructed.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 01, 1945
- Accession Number
- ADB807901
Entities
People
- John G. Kirkwood
- S. R. Brinkley Jr.
Organizations
- Cornell University