A novel scalable model for simulating explosive blast propagation

Based on the linear wave equation, we propose a new model for propagating explosive blast waves. This scalable model could offer an attractive alternative to ray tracing methods for performing site specific blast calculations while still being compatible with models for shock front interactions that are intended primarily for use with ray based calculations. A scalable parallel implementation of the proposed model is presented and we show that it can solve blast problems on a scale of practical interest. Two specific features of the model are demonstrated in a preliminary validation study: (i) that wave fronts produced by the new model encompass all rays reported by two ray tracing calculations and (ii) the wave model captures all paths from the explosion to the target, whereas the ray tracing model may omit some paths.