Stress wave patterns and the size of the non-elastic zones of an explosive source

Summary The travel-time curves of characteristic moments of stress wave patterns were investigated. The arrival time of the onset of stress wavet ₀, of the maximum amplitudet ₁ and of the moment terminating the pressure part (the first half-wave) of this wavet ₂ were taken to be representative. These travel-time curves were used to determine the velocities of propagation of these moments (V ₀,V ₁ andV ₂) as functions of the distance from the source. According to their variations it is possible to appoint the size of the cavity created by the explosion and to determine the distance at which the elastic source surface of stress waves is to be found. The radius of the cavity is given by 1.5 times the distance at whichV ₁ separates fromV ₀. The elastic source surface of stress waves is defined by the distance from whichV ₀ is constant and at whichV ₁ andV ₂ have minimum values. These two distances determine the points at which the character of the stress wave pattern changes: from shock wave in gases, through shock wave in a solid medium to a seismic wave.Paper presented at the General Assembly of the European Seismological Commission, Luxembourg, Sept. 21–29, 1970.