blastfront

Blastfront is the leading boundary of a blast wave produced by an explosion. It marks the transition between the highly disturbed air near the source and the undisturbed ambient medium beyond. The blastfront propagates outward from the source at high speed and is accompanied by abrupt changes in pressure, temperature, and particle velocity.

Physically, the blastfront is the advancing surface of a shock wave that compresses and then decompresses the surrounding medium as it passes. Its shape and strength depend on the energy of the explosion, the distance from the source, the environment (open air, urban canyons, or confined spaces), and the presence of obstacles that reflect and refract the wave. As the front moves outward, overpressure typically decays with distance, while the duration of the high-pressure region shortens. Interactions with surfaces can create secondary fronts and complex pressure distributions that influence damage patterns.

Measurement and modeling of blastfronts rely on sensors that capture peak overpressure, impulse, and arrival time, as well as computational simulations. Analytical scaling laws relate effects to a scaled distance, enabling comparisons across different yields and standoff distances. Modern studies employ computational fluid dynamics and hydrocode simulations to predict front shape and damage potential in varied environments.

Applications of blastfront understanding include safety engineering, building design and protective construction, urban hazard assessment, and blast-resistant testing. The concept supports standards for glazing, structural connections, and standoff planning to mitigate injuries and damage.

Note: the term may appear in other contexts, but this article describes the leading edge of a blast wave in explosion physics.