The response of plates under non-uniform impulsive loads

Near-field blast loads are non-uniformly distributed across the loaded face of a structural element and result in large, localised plastic deformations. Experimental characterisation of both the loading and resultant deformation is rare in the literature, and to date there have been no studies which investigate modes and mechanisms of target deformation with a detailed knowledge of the imparted load. This paper presents results from a collaboration between the University of Sheffield, UK, and the University of Cape Town, South Africa, aimed at measuring the loading imparted to, and subsequent dynamic deformation of blast loaded plates. This paper presents results from these experiments, where the presence of inward and outward travelling flexural waves are observed and discussed in relation to localised variations in the imparted load.