Shock wave propagation characteristics of aluminum‐containing explosive in corrugated steel‐lined tunnel

Abstract Aluminum‐containing explosives (AE) pose significantly enhanced blast hazards compared to conventional explosives due to their aluminum‐driven aftercombustion effects. This study systematically investigates the shock wave propagation characteristics of AE in both corrugated steel‐lined tunnel (CSLT) and conventional concrete tunnel (CT) through combined experimental and theoretical analyses. Comparative evaluation with equivalent‐mass trinitrotoluene (TNT) charges reveals AE's superior performance in energy release efficiency, overpressure peaks, and duration characteristics, attributable to the aftercombustion effect of aluminum particles. Experimental results demonstrate that the corrugated steel lining enhances blast wave attenuation in the distal tunnel section primarily through geometric reflection and turbulent dissipation, thereby reducing the peak overpressure by approximately 50% and increasing the attenuation rate by 3%–10% compared to an unlined tunnel. Combining dimensional analysis and empirical data, we developed a predictive model for AE planar wave propagation across both tunnel types. This model confirmed the CSLT's efficacy in attenuating the first pressure peak, precisely predicting it with less than 10% error in magnitude and below 3% error in arrival time. These findings provide a theoretical foundation for optimizing blast‐resistant designs in protective engineering and refining safety distance assessment protocols.