Diaphragm gauge for measuring explosive impulse

The measurement of shock and stress waves under the action of explosion and impact loading has long been a concern of scientists and engineers. A number of methods have been developed over the years for measuring the physical parameters that are involved in the material dynamics resulting from an explosion. This work describes the development, calibration and validation of a passive copper diaphragm gauge aimed at measuring the impulse acting on it, resulting from an explosion in air. It is found that the diaphragm deformation (central deflection) can be used to measure the impulse, given the calibration curve. Once the gauge is calibrated, it can be used to measure the impulse acting on it in other media (water, soil, etc.). Such gauges are useful in measuring explosion induced impulses acting on structures. This usefulness is the result of the gauge simplicity and reproducibility. It can be used as a passive gauge or, when instrumented with strain gauges, as a passive and active (electronic) gauge.