ABSTRACT
This study experimentally investigated dynamic fracturing behavior of brittle material under blasting loading. In the test, a detonator charged with DDNP (Diazodinitrophenol) and a PMMA ((Poly methyl methacrylate) specimen, a transparent and homogeneous material, were used. A high speed camera was employed to observe the cracking behavior, and it successfully provided obvious evidences to understand the crack propagation of brittle material under blasting loading. Two kinds of crack, namely shock-wave driven and gas-driven crack, were observed during the test. We qualitatively identified the initiation and propagation processes of the cracks. The results show that the gas-driven fracture in an ear-like shape was more predominant than shock-wave-driven fractures. Experimental results (i.e., crack length and the number of cracks) reasonably matched with the analytical solution based on fracture mechanics.
