This paper presents results of experiments and numerical modeling on the mitigation of blast waves using dry aqueous foams. The multiphase formalism is used to model the dry aqueous foam as a dense non-equilibrium two-phase medium as well as its interaction with the high explosion detonation products. New experiments have been performed to study the mass scaling effects. The experimental as well as the numerical results, which are in good agreement, show that more than an order of magnitude reduction in the peak overpressure ratio can be achieved. The positive impulse reduction is less marked than the overpressures. The Hopkinson scaling is also found to hold particularly at larger scales for these two blast parameters. Furthermore, momentum and heat transfers, which have the main dominant role in the mitigation process, are shown to modify significantly the classical blast wave profile and thereafter to disperse the energy from the peak overpressure due to the induced relaxation zone. In addition, the velocity of the fireball, which acts as a piston on its environment, is smaller than in air. Moreover, the greater inertia of the liquid phase tends to project the aqueous foam far from the fireball. The created gap tempers the amplitude of the transmitted shock wave to the aqueous foam. As a consequence, this results in a lowering of blast wave parameters of the two-phase spherical decaying shock wave.

Blast wave mitigation by dry aqueous foams

Experiments were performed to investigate the potential of water‐based foams to reduce the farfield noise levels produced by demolitions activity. Measurements of the noise reductions in flat‐weighted sound exposure level (FSEL), C‐weighted sound exposure level (CSEL), and peak level were made for a variety of charge masses, foam depths, and foam densities (250:1 and 30:1 expansion ratio foams). Scaling laws were developed to relate the foam depth, foam density, and charge mass to noise reductions. These laws provide consistent results for reductions in the peak level, FSEL and CSEL up to a dimensionless foam depth of 2.5. A two part model for the mechanisms of sound level reductions by foam is suggested.

The reduction of blast noise with aqueous foam

Multiphase flows, which involve compressible or incompressible fluids with linear or nonlinear dynamics, are found in all areas of technology at all length scales and flow regimes. In this contribution, we discuss application of aqueous-foam barriers against blast wave impact. The first experiments demonstrating this behaviour were conducted in the early 1980s in free-field tests. Based on structural requirements, various foams with different blast energy contents were tested with the aim of characterizing the time history of the blast pressure reduction. A number of consistent methodologies for calculating this pressure reduction in foam are based on the effective gas flow model. For estimating the uncertainties of these methodologies, we briefly demonstrate their comparison with existing experimental data. Thereafter, we present various modifications of modelling approaches and their comparison with new results of blast wave experiments.

Macro-mechanical modelling of blast wave mitigation in foams. Part I: review of available experiments and models

Interaction of shock waves in air with a porous screen

The present investigation examines the interaction of shock waves with closed cell aluminum foam samples in a conventional shock tube The effect of the sample thickness on shock wave attenuation and/or enhancement and the use of the foam in the sandwich structure is studied Results in terms of incident and reflected shock pressures are obtained, and the effectiveness of the samples with and without the foam is compared It is demonstrated that the foam density and thickness, as well as the placement of cover plates of the same material in front of and behind the foam have the most significant effect on the reflected shock pressure It is concluded that the closed cell aluminum metal foam can be effectively used as a sacrificial layer in blast protection of structures

Interaction of a shock wave with a closed cell aluminum metal foam

Shock waves in water foams

Propagation of shock waves in tubes filled with water foams is studied using pressure gauges. Low amplitude shock waves consist of a precursor which propagates at a velocity slightly less than the acoustic velocity in the gas, and of a main compression wave which propagates slower than the precursor. Stronger shock waves have a single front. Maximum pressure rise in the incident and reflected shock waves cannot be calculated using one-dimensional conservation equations at the shock front. It is suggested that the flow of the liquid in foam cells has to be taken into account in order to predict the behavior of shock waves in foams. The nature of the gas which fills the cells is shown to have a strong effect on the quenching of blast waves in foams.

V. V. Stepanov

Papers

Shock waves in water foams

Shock waves in water foams