Blast Waves

  • The main workhorse of the explosion is the blast wave.
    explosion
                          with blast wave on the margin
  • The heat coupled with the rapidly expanding gases causes an area of high pressure that expands out from the initiation point. This high pressure area is a shock wave and it expands outward causing mayhem and destruction to anything in its path.
  • As the rapid displacement of air and material from the expanding shock wave occurs a vacuum is created at the origination point and air and surrounding gases rush back in to restore equilibrium. This generates a secondary reverse shock wave that travels back to the origin of the explosion.