Blast wave kinematics: theory, experiments, and applications

Measurements of the time of arrival of shock waves from explosions can serve as powerful markers of the evolution of the shock front for determining crucial parameters driving the blast. Using standard theoretical tools and a simple ansatz for solving the hydrodynamics equations, a general expression for the Mach number of the shock front is derived. Dimensionless coordinates are introduced allowing a straightforward visualization and direct comparison of blast waves produced by a variety of explosions, including chemical, nuclear, and laser-induced plasmas. The results are validated by determining the yield of a wide range of explosions, using data from gram-size charges to thermonuclear tests.

Automated summary

Measurements of shock wave arrival time can determine crucial parameters in the evolution of explosions. By utilizing standard tools and a simple ansatz, a general expression for the shock front Mach number is derived, allowing for visualization and comparison of blast waves from various types of explosions.