Modeling Explosions and Blast Waves

The book provides a concise description of the physical processes and mathematical models for explosions and formation of blast waves from explosions. The contents focus on quantitatively determining the energy released in the different types of explosions and the destructive blast waves that are generated. The contribution of flames, detonations and other physical processes to the explosion phenomenon is dealt with in detail. Gaseous and condensed phase explosions are discussed and the yield of explosions with their TNT equivalence is determined. Time scales involved in the explosion process and the scaling procedure are ascertained.   

Explosions over the ground, in water, and the interaction of explosions with objects are examined. In order to keep the text easily readable, the detailed derivation of the mathematical equations is given in the seven appendices at the end of the book. Case studies of various explosions are investigated and simple problems and their solutions are provided for the different topics to assist the reader in internalizing the explosion process. The book is a useful reference for professionals and academics in aeronautics, mechanical, civil and chemical engineering and for personnel working in explosive manufacture and high-energy materials, armaments, space, defense, and industrial and fire safety.  

K. Ramamurthi obtained Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering in 1976 from McGill University, Montreal after a Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore, in 1970. He worked on the development of solid, liquid, and cryogenic propellant rockets in the Indian Space Research Organization, and at Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Madras, where he has been teaching courses on thermodynamics, combustion, propulsion, gas dynamics and explosion and safety, and guiding research work. He has been on several committees and panels on propulsion, combustion, and shock waves and chairman of the Combustion, Detonics, and Shock Wave Panel of the Defense Research and Development Organization. He is an Honorary Fellow of the High Energy Materials Society.