Motion of sandy soil following an underground explosion

Summary

• 1. An induction method of measuring the variation with time of the particle velocity of a loosely bound soil is proposed.

• 2. A complete picture of the motion following an explosion in loose sand is obtained. The following kinetic parameters of motion are presented: particle velocity of the sand, its distribution with respect to distance and variation in time, the kinetic energy of the sand as a function of time, the variation of sand density behind the wave front.

• 3. Empirical formulas are obtained for the maximum particle velocity as a function of the distance to the center of explosion, as well as formulas describing the distribution of particle velocity behind the front at different instants of time.

• 4. The validity of the law of geometric similarity is demonstrated both for the parameters at the wave front (maximum particle velocity and maximum are rival time) and for the motion behind the front.