Development of a Three-Dimensional Air Blast Propagation Model Based Upon the Weighted Average Flux Method

Accurate numerical modeling of complex, multi-dimensional shock propagation is needed for many Department of Defense applications. A three-dimensional code, based upon E.F. Toro\u27s weighted average flux (WAF) method has been developed, tested, and validated. Code development begins with the introduction and application of all techniques in a single dimension. First-order accuracy is achieved via Godunov\u27s scheme using an exact Riemann solver. Adaptive techniques, which employ approximate solutions, are implemented to improve computational efficiency. The WAF method produces second-order accurate solutions, but introduces spurious oscillations near shocks and contact discontinuities. Total variation diminishing (TVD) flux and weight limiting schemes are added to reduce fluctuation severity. Finally, the fully developed one dimensional code is validated against experimental data, and extended into two and three dimensions via dimension-splitting technique