An analysis of an explosive shock wave impact onto military vehicles of contemporary warfare

Landmines and improvised explosive devices (IED) are the basic weapon used by the rebels against the Coalition forces in Afghanistan and Iraq. It is estimated that about 50% of the casualties (wounded and killed) among the soldiers from the US and other countries participating in both conflicts are caused by explosive charge. Introduction of vehicles providing proper protection of the crew against an explosive shock wave generated by a detonation of mines and improvised explosive devices into the arsenal has become one of the priorities of modernization of armed forceps. The parameters critical to the emerging of a hazard for the surrounding includes the overpressure impulse and the shock wave overpressure. The problem of defining the parameters of an explosive shock wave generated after detonation of charges of various mass, shape and physical-chemical properties is a subject of studies at much scientific institution. The gained quantitative data are not, however, published in public reports, thus a need of performing one’s own experimental and numeric research arise. The goal of these studies is to find solutions increasing soldier’s safety at the battlefield. The paper presents an analysis of impact of a shock wave onto structures of military vehicle. Furthermore, methods of experimental definition of explosion shock wave parameters were presented and conclusions for the needs of further experimental-numerical studies were formulated.