Mitigation of Blast Induced Acceleration using open cell natural rubber and Synthetic Foam

Inderpal Singh Sandhu; Murugan Thangadurai; Prashant S Alegaonkar; D.R. Saroha

doi:10.14429/dsj.69.12586

Inderpal Singh Sandhu DRDO-Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory, Chandigarh- 160 030, India
Murugan Thangadurai CSIR-Central Mechanical Engineering Research Institute, Durgapur- 713 209, India
Prashant S Alegaonkar Defence Institute of Advanced Technology (Deemed University) Girinagar, Pune, India- 411 025
D.R. Saroha DRDO-Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory, Chandigarh - 160 030, India

DOI: https://doi.org/10.14429/dsj.69.12586

Keywords: Acceleration mitigation, natural rubber foam, synthetic foam, acceleration measurement, blast wave, Polyurethane foam

Abstract

In addition to high pressure generated by explosion, the induced high acceleration can also cause severe injuries to occupants and structural damage, especially in anti-vehicular land mine blast scenario. This problem has not been studied well and only few techniques to reduce the deadly effect of high acceleration are reported in literature. In the present work, the mitigation of blast induced acceleration using add-on layers of open cell natural rubber and synthetic foam on rigidly fixed composite plate has been studied experimentally under increasing blast wave strengths. The blast wave strength was varied by increasing quantity of plastic explosive from 0.150 kg to 0.550 kg. The induced vibration in the composite plate due to impingement of blast wave was measured in terms of acceleration using piezoelectric accelerometer. It was observed that the sharp rising acceleration signals were transformed into a slowly rising and low amplitude signals with the addition of foam. The mitigation of high frequencies and amplitude of acceleration signals was also verified with the fast Fourier transform study. The rubber foam shows better acceleration mitigation than synthetic foam. This study has suggested that the material like rubber and synthetic foam can be used for mitigating the acceleration resulting from the impact of blast wave.

Author Biographies

Inderpal Singh Sandhu, DRDO-Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory, Chandigarh- 160 030, India

Mr Inderpal Singh Sandhu did MSc (Physics) from Punjab Agricultural university, ludhiana. Presently he is working as Scientist ‘F’ at DRDO-Terminal Ballistics Research laboratory, Chandigarh. His research areas include: Established test methodologies and techniques for evaluation of various blast protective systems and structures. He successfully established shock tube facility for basic studies related to blast structure interaction and blast mitigation.
In the current study, he contributed in planning and conduct of these experimental tests, processed the raw data from tests for evaluation and analysis, and reviewed the literature and prepared the draft manuscript.

Murugan Thangadurai, CSIR-Central Mechanical Engineering Research Institute, Durgapur- 713 209, India

Dr Murugan thangadurai completed his PhD in Aerospace from IIT, Kanpur and presently working as Senior Scientist at CSIR- Central Mechanical Engineering Research Institute, Durgapur. His research interests includes: Experimental aerodynamics, drag reduction, vortex ring, shock/blast wave attenuation and computational fluid dynamics.
In the current study, he contributed by writing various MATlAB® programs for experimental data processing, analysis and plotting. He also contributed in data interpretation and elaborated the manuscript to the final form.

Prashant S Alegaonkar, Defence Institute of Advanced Technology (Deemed University) Girinagar, Pune, India- 411 025

Dr prashant S. Alegaonkar obtained his PhD in Physics from university of Pune. At present he is working as Assistant Professor at Defence Institute of Advanced Technology, Deemed University, Pune. He has research experience in the fields of experimental physics, materials analysis using nuclear techniques, radiation damage in polymers, synthesis of carbon based nano-structures by chemical vapour deposition, chemical, solvo-thermal, exfoliation techniques and application for field emission, development and fabrication of nano–composites.
In the current study, he contributed in analysis and interpretation of acquired data and reviewing the manuscript.

D.R. Saroha, DRDO-Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory, Chandigarh - 160 030, India

Dr d.r. Saroha completed his PhD in Physics from Panjab University, Chandigarh. Presently working as Dr Raja Ramanna DRDO Distinguish Fellow in DRDO-Terminal Ballistics Research laboratory, Chandigarh. His area of research includes design and development of warheads for tactical missiles and torpedoes, flash radiography, shaped charge and EFP warhead technologies and blast mitigation studies.
In the current study, he contributed in this study in planning of experiments, overall guidance during the work and reviewing the manuscript.

References

Kinney, G. F. & Graham, K. J. Explosive Shocks in Air. Second edition, Springer Science + Business Media, LLC, 1985.

Candole, C. A. Blast injury. Canad. Med. Ass. J., 1967, 96, 207-214.

Wightman J. M. & Gladish S. L. Explosions and blasts injuries. Ann. Emerg. Med., 2001, 37, 664–678.

Nahum, A. M. & Melvin, J. W. Accidental Injury Biomechanics and Prevention. Springer Science + Business Media, LLC, 1993.

Mikhail, A. G. Vulnerability of light ground vehicles and their crews to acceleration resulting from battlefield threats. In Proceeding of the 20th International Symposium on Ballistics, 2002, 1252–1263.

Williams, K. ; Fillion-Gourdeau, F. Numerical simulation of light armoured vehicle occupant vulnerability to anti-vehicle mine blast. In Proceeding of the 7th Int. LS-DYNA Users Conf., 2002, 7–14.

Cendón, D. A. ; Sanchez-Galvez, V. ; Galvez, F. & Enfedaque, A. The use of foam structures in armoured vehicle protection against landmines. In Proceeding of the 22nd International Symposium on Ballistics, 2005, 1048–55.

NATO, Test methodology for protection of vehicle occupants against anti-vehicular landmine effects. The Research and Technology Organisation (RTO) technical report TR-HFM-090, 2007.

Ramasamy, A.; Masouros, S. D. ; Newell, N. ; Hill, A. M. ; Proud, W. G. ; Brown, K. A. ; Bull, A. M. J. & Clasper, J. C. In-vehicle extremity injuries from improvised explosive devices: current and future foci. Philos. Trans. R. Soc. Lond. B. Biol. Sci., 2011, 366, 160-170.

Bayly, P. V.; Cohen, T. S.; Leister, E. P.; Ajo, D.; Leuthardt, E. C. & Genin, G. M. Deformation of the Human Brain Induced by Mild Acceleration. Journal of Neurotrauma, 2005, 22(8), 845-856.

Voshell, M. High acceleration and the human body. 2004, http://csel.eng.ohio-state.edu/voshell/gforce.pdf