Shock tube for simulating nuclear blast durations

The general design of a shock tube that was fabricated and used to produce a shock pulse having a relatively long duration (comparable to that produced by a nuclear detonation) is described. This shock tube used the reflected portion of the wave to produce the peak and early history wave pressure acting on the target, and nozzle flow through the rear of the driver tube to control the remainder of the decaying pressure pulse profile. The estimated pressure profile is compared with the profile obtained by a transducer that was located just above the target surface, and they are in general agreement. The general performance of the shock tube is discussed and suggestions made for further improvement of the technique.