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Application of background oriented schlieren for quantitative measurements of shock waves from explosions

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Abstract

This paper describes application of a background oriented schlieren technique in order to obtain quantitative measurements of shock waves from explosions by processing high speed digital video recordings. The technique is illustrated by an analysis of two explosions, a high explosive test and a hydrogen gas explosion test. The visualization of the shock front is utilized to calculate the shock Mach number, leading to a predicted shock front pressure. For high explosives the method agreed quite well with a standard curve for side-on shock pressures. In the case of the gas explosion test we can also show that the shock front is non-spherical. It should be possible to develop this technique to investigate external blast waves and external explosions from vented gas explosions in more details.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Technology, Telemark University College, Kjølnes Ring 56, 3918, Porsgrunn, Norway

    O. K. Sommersel, D. Bjerketvedt & K. Vaagsaether

  2. Norwegian Defence Estates Agency, (NDEA), Postboks 405 Sentrum, 0103, Oslo, Norway

    S. O. Christensen & O. Krest

Authors
  1. O. K. Sommersel
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  2. D. Bjerketvedt
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  3. S. O. Christensen
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  4. O. Krest
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  5. K. Vaagsaether
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to O. K. Sommersel.

Additional information

Communicated by L. Bauwens.

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Sommersel, O.K., Bjerketvedt, D., Christensen, S.O. et al. Application of background oriented schlieren for quantitative measurements of shock waves from explosions. Shock Waves 18, 291–297 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00193-008-0142-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00193-008-0142-1

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