Experimental study of blast loading behind a building corner

Abstract

AbstractThe paper presents unique blast experiments in reference to scientific literature and official standards. Experimental scenarios reflect a hypothetical realistic combat situation of a human being covered from a blast wave behind a rigid building corner. In the scenario assumed, the overpressure loads affect the lungs while the person is standing or the eardrums while the person is kneeling at the aiming position. The paper presents 27 free-field experiments measuring the overpressure loads. All the measurements were taken behind the right angle of the rigid wall. Two masses of TNT were considered: 200 g and 400 g. In the selected cases, a low test-to-test variability of the measured data was observed. Detailed plots of overpressure versus time are presented for various distances behind the building corner and TNT charge masses. Peak overpressure versus positive impulse plots are also demonstrated. Furthermore, the safety thresholds regarding different locations behind the building corner are defined for the considered explosive masses.