Blast loading of a small-scale box-like structure. comparison of experimental results with a simplified theory

In the EMI model-simulator, which is a small-scale model (1 : 42) of the large blast simulator of Reiteralpe, several box-like structures (48 x 48 x 96 mm) have been tested. For incident shock overpressures of 0.3, 0.5, 0.7, 1.0 and 1.2 bar, pressure measurements on different locations at the front, rear, side, top and bottom of the test object were done to obtain loading functions for further investigations e.g. response analysis. The tests were started first with a model placed on the ground and after that with the same model but put on four stilts as simulation of a military truck. Typical pressure-time histories of all surfaces will be presented. To test scaling laws, these experiments were also performed with a block of 2 x 2 x 4 m in the large simulator of Reiteralpe and are in good agreement with our results (MABS 11), p. 43). With numerical codes on principle it is possible to calculate the loading of all surfaces for an incident blastwave. Since these calculations can be very extensive, we tried to estimate the average loading using a simplified theory as described in "The Effects of Nuclear Weapons" (compiled and edited by S. Glasstone and P. J. Dolan, 3rd edition, 1977, USA-Department of Defense). For a box-like structure rigidly attached to the grond and one side facing to the blastwave, the average measured loading of all surfaces is compared with the results of the simplified theory. There is a good agreement between theory and experiment, sufficient for a quick and simple estimation of blast loading-time curves.