Simulation analysis of effects of single fragment size on air-blast wave and fragment propagation

  Objectives  This paper involves the propagation and attenuation of the velocity and energy of air-blast waves and high-velocity fragments while taking their combined effects into account.

  Methods  With ANSYS/LS-DYNA software, a simulation model of a columnar TNT air blast is built with prefabricated fragments affixed to its end. When the total quality of fragments is constant, the effects of a single fragment's size on the propagation of the air-blast wave and fragments are studied by changing the size of the single fragment.

  Results  The results show that fragments greatly reduce the intensity and velocity of a shockwave, and block the air-blast waves behind them. When the total quality of the fragments remains constant, the effects of single fragment size on blast shockwave propagation characteristics show little difference. The smaller the single fragment, the more kinetic energy the fragments will have and the faster that energy will dissipate.

  Conclusions  As a result, more attention should be paid to the combined effects of air-blast waves and high-velocity fragments. Such research can provide reference points for the deeper study of blast loads and their interaction.