Image processing techniques for the characterization of explosively driven dispersions

PresentationDispersions driven by explosions are challenging to characterize mainly due to the extreme test conditions, the different time and spatial scales of the flow, and the variation of intensity due to the combustion. An intensity based optical method to characterize the dispersion driven by an explosion is proposed. The velocity and intensity maps of the dispersion are accessed through the post- processing of the images of the dispersion. These images can be obtained either from a global visualization (using a light source, such as in the image given in Figure 1, or the combustion light itself) or from a transversal visualization (using a laser sheet illuminating inside the cloud, such as in the image given in Figure 2). The developed method is organized into three steps. First, the contour of the cloud is detected via a dynamic grey-scale threshold criterion. The dispersion contours allow the computation of the velocity of the expansion as long as the plume presents a regular edge. Then, Large-Scale Particle Image Velocimetry technique is applied to obtain the velocity map of the dispersion. Additionally, information about the combustion phenomenon can also be accessed via an intensity-based analysis. The method has been initially verified using a numerical test case. It has been thereafter applied on different experimental measurements presenting challenging features such as variations of light intensity, time scales, and spatial scales

Reflected near-field blast pressure measurements using high speed video

Background: The design and analysis of protective systems requires a detailed understanding of, and the ability to accurately predict, the distribution of pressure loads acting on an obstacle following an explosive detonation. In particular, there is a pressing need for accurate characterisation of blast loads in the region very close to a detonation, where even small improvised devices can produce serious structural or material damage. Objective: Accurate experimental measurement of these near-field blast events, using intrusive methods, is demanding owing to the high magnitudes (> 100 MPa) and short durations (< 1 ms) of loading. The objective of this article is to develop a non-intrusive method for measuring reflected blast pressure distributions using image analysis. Methods: This article presents results from high speed video analysis of near-field spherical PE4 explosive blasts. The Canny edge detection algorithm is used to track the outer surface of the explosive fireball, with the results used to derive a velocity-radius relationship. Reflected pressure distributions are calculated using this velocity-radius relationship in conjunction with the Rankine-Hugoniot jump conditions. Results: The indirectly measured pressure distributions from high speed video are compared with directly measured pressure distributions and are shown to be in good qualitative agreement with respect to distribution of reflected pressures, and in good quantitative agreement with peak reflected pressures (within 10% of the maximum recorded value). Conclusions: The results indicate that it is possible to accurately measure blast loads in the order of 100s MPa using techniques which do not require sensitive recording equipment to be located close to the source of the explosion