Shock Wave Attenuation Using Foam Obstacles: Does Geometry Matter?

Hongjoo Jeon; Jonathan R. Gross; Sarah Estabrook; Stylianos Koumlis; Qian Wan; Gauri R. Khanolkar; Xingtian Tao; David M. Mensching; Edward J. Lesnick; Veronica Eliasson

doi:10.3390/aerospace2020353

Aerospace (Jun 2015)

Shock Wave Attenuation Using Foam Obstacles: Does Geometry Matter?

Hongjoo Jeon,
Jonathan R. Gross,
Sarah Estabrook,
Stylianos Koumlis,
Qian Wan,
Gauri R. Khanolkar,
Xingtian Tao,
David M. Mensching,
Edward J. Lesnick,
Veronica Eliasson

Affiliations

Hongjoo Jeon: Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
Jonathan R. Gross: Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
Sarah Estabrook: Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
Stylianos Koumlis: Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
Qian Wan: Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
Gauri R. Khanolkar: Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
Xingtian Tao: Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
David M. Mensching: Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
Edward J. Lesnick: Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
Veronica Eliasson: Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/aerospace2020353
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 2, no. 2
pp. 353 – 375

Abstract

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A shock wave impact study on open and closed cell foam obstacles was completed to assess attenuation effects with respect to different front face geometries of the foam obstacles. Five different types of geometries were investigated, while keeping the mass of the foam obstacle constant. The front face, i.e., the side where the incident shock wave impacts, were cut in geometries with one, two, three or four convergent shapes, and the results were compared to a foam block with a flat front face. Results were obtained by pressure sensors located upstream and downstream of the foam obstacle, in addition to high-speed schlieren photography. Results from the experiments show no significant difference between the five geometries, nor the two types of foam.

Published in Aerospace

ISSN: 2226-4310 (Online)
Publisher: MDPI AG
Country of publisher: Switzerland
LCC subjects: Technology: Motor vehicles. Aeronautics. Astronautics
Website: http://www.mdpi.com/journal/aerospace

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