Shock Wave Interactions with Soda Lime Glass*

The aim of our study is to understand the nature of fracture and fragmentation occurring in soda lime glass when impacted by a shock wave. The work is motivated by the need to understand and mitigate the severe impacts blast waves cause to infrastructure. Case studies in which blast waves are generated in conflict zones, as a result of meteorite impacts, and due to industrial failures are discussed. Shock wave experiments performed utilize a high-speed camera that captures the nature of fracture patterns and failure mechanisms. Additionally, pressure data collected throughout the shock tube provides insights regarding the shock wave propagation and reflection. Shock wave interactions with soda lime glass were examined at Mach numbers 1.2, 1.45, and 1.7 to observe correlations between shock intensity and resulting fragmentation and fracture. Contextual information regarding continuum mechanics is imperative in this study as it pertains to the theoretical framework resulting from experimental observations. Principles of continuum mechanics can be employed to develop mathematical models for computational simulations. Comparing experimental results provided in this study to computational results improves the model’s accuracy and validity.