PREDICTION OF THE WAVELENGTH OF INTERFACE WAVES IN SYMMETRIC EXPLOSIVE WELDING.

A theory is developed for calculating the wavelength of the waves produced at the welded interface between two identical and explosively projected (flyer) plates using the so-called symmetric welding arrangement. The theory appeals to the analogy between interface wave formation and the formation of a vortex street behind an obstacle in a fluid stream which has been discussed elsewhere. It is a notional theory in the sense that the results of an inviscid analysis of jet collision are combined with a semi-empirical vortex shedding theory. In spite of this, the authors believe that it provides a useful first approximation to a more rigorous analysis, and this belief is supported by the agreement found between the theory and certain experimental results obtained from the welding of steel flyer plates.