Attenuation of blast waves using rigid porous plate arrays: Insights from experiments and simulations

This study presents a detailed investigation into the attenuation of blast waves by a rigid porous plate array through a combination of experiments and three-dimensional numerical simulations. Blast waves are produced in a closed shock tube with a short driver section. The perforated plate array is positioned within the shock tube at a predetermined stand-off distance from the end wall/target wall to examine its impact on blast wave attenuation. Key parameters of the porous plated array, such as perforation shape, porosity, and perforation alignment, are analyzed for their impact on end wall pressure history. Among the examined perforations, square holes exhibit the highest resistance to blast propagation due to increased viscous drag and energy dissipation, whereas circular perforations offer the least resistance. Arrays with lower porosity exhibit the highest attenuation of the incident blast wave and prolonged end wall pressure buildup. Hole alignment between the adjacent plates also plays a critical role in blast attenuation. Results indicate that a staggered configuration is more effective than an in-line arrangement, as it enhances energy dissipation through multiple reflections and diffractions. Additionally, the study examines the effect of plate count and the blast wave Mach number on target wall pressure. Adding more plates to the array creates greater obstruction to blast propagation. Furthermore, a prediction model is developed to estimate pressure evolution on the target wall for different perforation shapes and configurations.