Laboratory scale tests for the assessment of solid explosive blast effects. Part II: Reflected blast series of tests

An experimental set-up has been developed in order to detonate small explosive charges and to measure their induced blast on reduced scale structures. On the basis of Crank Hopkinson’s Law, the results obtained at reduced scale are used to derive full scale predictive models. A previous paper summarized the development of the reduced scale experimental set-up as well as the first free-field tests performed. The main features of the table, the instrumentation and the pyrotechnics were given.The present paper summarizes a second series of tests investigating the validity of models designed to predict reflected blast waves characteristics. Overpressure maxima, arrival time of the shock wave and impulse have been measured and are presented in this paper as non-dimensional characteristics of the pressure-time history. The results obtained from the experiments are in good agreement in comparison with data from the open literature and may thus be considered as reference results for further numerical or analytical model developments.The series of tests reported in this paper is in addition the final series of tests dedicated to validate the experimental set-up and the experimental procedures associated.

► We conducted experimental tests dealing with reflected wave induced by detonation.
► We highlight the formation of a Mach wave.
► We compared experimental results to empiric charts (good agreement).