The effects of air filled voids and water content on the momentum transferred from a shallow buried explosive to a rigid target

Small-scale dynamic experiments were performed using explosive charges shallow buried in water or in various soil types at differing initial states. Using the results from these experiments, it was discovered that the amount of momentum transferred to a rigid target is relatively independent of soil type but that mostly depends on the initial air-filled void content of the soil and the effect of water content on the yield strength of the soil. Data from quasi-static tests of soils at a number of initial states along with known results for the higher pressure behavior of water-quartz mixtures were combined to construct soil models at various initial soil states. Computations were performed in order to evaluate the sensitivity of rigid plate loading to various facets of constitutive behavior described in the soil models in order to better understand the causes for the newly revealed parametric relationship. The computations closely matched the experimental results, thereby supporting theories regarding the parametric relations. The results from the computations offered insight into the mechanics behind the parametric relations. •Reported factors relating to the peak momentum imparted to a rigid target.•Investigated three soil types – poorly graded sand, silty sand, and clayey sand.•Found the momentum imparted to the target increases with increasing air filled void content and with decreasing yield strength.•Performed computational predictions based on experimental constitutive models for the behavior of the soils.