Explosive driven shock tube loading of aluminium plates: experimental study

To accurately identify the material characteristics in material testing, the control of the initial and
boundary conditions is very important. Among these conditions, obtaining a repeatable and known
loading is a sensitive point especially for tests in the dynamic and impulsional range. Several techniques
are used to generate blast wave loads. This paper focuses on the use of an explosive driven shock tube
(EDST). The results of a series of tests using an EDST are discussed, with regard to the pressure, the
impulse, the wave planarity and the repeatability of the loading. The EDST and free air blast are used to
generate blast loading on fully clamped square aluminium plates. The response from both loads is
measured with a high-speed 3D digital image correlation (DIC) system and compared to each other. The
DIC measurements are compared to strain gauge measurement for validation purposes. It is found that
EDST allows to reach higher levels of pressure and impulse than the free air blast leading to higher
deformations and strain rates. It is also observed that the EDST tests show a higher repeatability and
symmetry relative to the free air blast tests.