A simple constitutive model for predicting the pressure histories developed behind rigid porous media impinged by shock waves

Shock wave attenuation by means of rigid porous media is often applied when protective structures are dealt with. The passage of a shock wave through a layer of porous medium is accompanied by diffractions and viscous effects that attenuate and weaken the transmitted shock, thus reducing the load that develops on the target wall that is placed behind the protective layer. In the present study, the parameters governing the pressure build-up on the target wall are experimentally investigated using a shock tube facility. Different porous samples are impinged by normal shock waves of various strengths and the subsequent pressure histories that are developed on the target wall are recorded. In addition, different standoff distances from the target wall are investigated. Assuming that the flow through the porous medium is close to being isentropic enabled us to develop a general constitutive model for predicting the pressure history developed on the target wall. This model can be applied to predict the pressure build-up on the target wall for any pressure history that is imposed on the front face of the porous sample without the need to conduct numerous experiments. Results obtained by other investigators are found to be in very good agreement with the predictions of the presently developed constitutive model.