Reflection Coefficients and Reflected Scaled Impulses from Detonations of High Explosives as a Function of Angle of Incidence

Abstract

Incident and reflected peak overpressures and reflected impulses are often used to compute blast loads on structures, components of structures, and objects. Reflection coefficients are used to transform incident to reflected peak overpressures for varying angles of incidence. Values for the reflection coefficient are available in textbooks and technical manuals but vary by document, especially in the Mach reflection region. Results of computational fluid dynamics analyses are presented to resolve differences among these documents and compute reflected scaled impulses. Recommendations are made for design practice.