Blast characteristics of center-initiated cylindrical charge in high-altitude environments

The effects of different high-altitudes on the blast parameters—including peak overpressure and specific impulse—produced by a center-initiated cylindrical charge (CC) were simulated using the AUTODYN software and analyzed through dimensional analysis theory. The relational equations of the blast parameters under reduced temperature and pressure were developed and validated through numerical simulations. The results demonstrate that the equations are effective in assessing the blast parameters generated by the center-initiated CCs under the conditions of reduced temperature, diminished pressure, and high-altitude environments effectively. The peak overpressure and impulse reduced on average by 29.6% and 40.0%, respectively, while the blast wave action range increased by 34.2% as the altitude changed from 0 to 10 000 m. When isolating the effects of diminished temperature and low pressure, it is found that low temperature reduced overpressure (impulse) by ∼0.5% (15.2%) and decreased the action range by 17.2%. In contrast, diminished pressure led to an average reduction of 30.0% and 48.4% in overpressure and impulse, respectively, while increasing the action range by 58.9%. In high-altitude settings, the blast parameters and action range of the blast wave generated by center-initiated CCs are predominantly influenced by reduced pressure, whereas the impact of low temperature is marginal comparatively.