Improved diagnostics for structural response and impulse transfer in blast experiments

This paper describes collaboration into experimental techniques for measuring spatial impulse distribution across target plates subjected to air-blast. In South Africa, the transient responses were obtained from digital image correlation and stereo-imaging of a flexible target plate. Specific impulse distributions were inferred from the velocity profiles. At the University of Sheffield, scaled blast tests employed a Hopkinson pressure bar array to obtain directly measured values at discrete locations across a rigid target. The findings demonstrate the usefulness of improved diagnostics and techniques in blast experiments, and demonstrate the potential of high speed imaging and DIC for determining impulse profiles.