Note 1: A variety of membranes can be used to reach the magnitude of pressure required for testing. Examples include acetate, mylar, velmax, kevlar.
Note 2: Helium is the preferred gas, however compressed air can also be used.
Note 3: It is optimal to use multiple pressure sensors located along one wall of the test section. The arrival time of the shock front at each sensor allows tracking of the shock speed from which an analytic solution can be determined for the peak shock levels to complement those measured by the sensors themselves. The analytic solution for peak shock levels is obtained from the Rankine-Hugoniot relations. After calculating the theoretical equations for static and dynamic pressures, the results should be reported with data.
Note 4: It is advisable that the specimen and holding fixture should present less than 20 % area blockage in order to replicate free-field conditions for animal testing.
Note 5: Sham animals should undergo all the same procedures with the exception of the blast insult