Interaction of a shock wave with a quartz sand partition

The interaction of a shock wave propagating in a hydrogen-air mixture with a granular destructible partition was studied experimentally and numerically. The experiments were carrier out using a shock tube. The transverse dimensions of the diagnostic section were 40 $\times$ 40 mm. The initial pressure of the gas mixture varied from 10 kPA to 50 kPA. The molar excess of hydrogen varied from 0.3 to 0.5. The partition was made of quartz sand with a small addition of a clay-based binder. The experiments were carried out at Mach numbers of 2.09–2.88, while combustion in a hydrogen-air mixture was not considered. Numerical modeling of the destruction of the sand partition was carried out using smoothed particle hydrodynamics with interparticle contact algorithms of the Godunov type. Typical pressure oscillograms and the results of high-speed visualization of the interaction processes using the Schlieren technique are presented. The attenuation coefficients of the reflected and transmitted shock waves are determined. The results are aimed at reducing the shock wave effects of an explosion in a confined space.