Study on the influence of different initial environmental pressures on explosion fireball and thermal damage of thermobaric explosive

To study the evolution of the fireball temperature field of thermobaric explosive at different initial ambient pressures, this study utilizes TNT as a reference to conduct static detonation experiments on thermobaric explosive of varying masses in both plain and plateau. The explosion process and temperature field change of thermobaric explosive are measured by a high-speed photography system and an infrared thermal imaging system. The thermobaric explosive explosion process and the temperature field distribution are analyzed. The temperature distribution patterns of the two explosives are distinct. The thermobaric explosive is characterized by a trapezoidal shape, in contrast to the parabolic profile of TNT. The maximum temperature, maximum diameter and maximum height of the fireball are significantly higher than those of TNT. The results demonstrate that thermobaric explosive has a pronounced thermal damage effect. The TNT thermal damage area ratio of thermobaric explosive can be quantified by employing an evaluation method based on the area ratio. A reduction in the initial ambient pressure has a considerable impact on the thermal damage effect of thermobaric explosive.