Response of Models to Water-Shock Loading

The dynamic response of submerged models to a point-source type of impulsive water-shock loading was investigated. A study of this response yields insight into shock wave propagation in solids and the mechanism of failure caused by the transient water-shock load. The effect of the transmitted compression shock waves on plaster and concrete materials was studied theoretically and experimentally. Underwater-shock waves were created by using a submerged exploding wire in a contained environment. The pressure-time relationships of water-shock waves, the transmitted stress-time relationships in solid materials, and the displacement data were measured. Test results confirmed a theoretical analysis of stress propagation in solid materials and fracture behavior.