System and method for simulating primary and secondary blast

A method of operating a blast tube including a first portion, a second portion, a third portion, a first diaphragm, a second diaphragm and a third diaphragm, the first portion including a first length and a first cross section, the second portion including a second length and a second cross section, the third portion including a third length and a third cross section, the first diaphragm being operable to switch from a closed state to an open state, the first diaphragm being disposed between the second portion and the third portion, the second diaphragm being operable to switch from a closed state to an open state, the third diaphragm being operable to switch from a closed state to an open state, the third diaphragm being disposed between the first portion and the second portion, the third portion being disposed between the first diaphragm and the second diaphragm, said method comprising:

• establishing a first pressure within the first portion;
• establishing a second pressure within the second portion;
• establishing a third pressure and a first temperature within the third portion before a first time;
• switching the first diaphragm from the closed state to the open state at the first time;
• switching the second diaphragm from the closed state to the open state at a second time after the first time;
• and
• switching the third diaphragm from the closed state to the open state at a third time after the second time.

A system comprising:

• a blast tube including a first portion, as second portion, a third portion, a first diaphragm, a second diaphragm and a third diaphragm, said first portion having a first inlet valve, a first outlet valve, a first length and a first cross section, said second portion having a second inlet valve, a second outlet valve, a second length and a second cross section, said third portion having a third inlet valve, a third outlet valve, a third length and a third cross section, the first diaphragm being operable to switch from a closed state to an open state at a first time, said first diaphragm being disposed between said second portion and said third portion, said second diaphragm being operable to switch from a closed state to an open state at a second time after the first time, said third diaphragm being operable to switch from a closed state to an open state at a third time after the second time, said third diaphragm being disposed between said first portion and said second portion, said third portion being disposed between said first diaphragm and said second diaphragm;
• a compressor operable to provide a first amount of a first gas to the first inlet valve, to provide a second amount of a second gas to said second inlet valve and to provide a third amount of a third gas to said third inlet valve;
• a controller operable to control said compressor;
• and
• a detector operable to detect a shock wave,
• wherein said third portion is disposed between said second portion and said detector.