Abstract: The wave theoretical formulae about the response of air backed plane plate to the shock wave of underwater explosion were got by applying one dimension plane wave theory. By comparing the wave theory formulae with the Taylor formula, it shows that two results are coincident when the impedance of plate is far higher than that of water. As the elastic modulus and density of plate decrease, the error of Taylor formula increases, but the wave theoretical formulas are still accurate. If the mass of plate and the shock wave of underwater explosion are fixed, the maximum velocity of plate is inversely proportional to the elastic modulus and density of plate. By comparing the responses of plates with different thicknesses to the same shock wave of underwater explosion, it is shown that the maximum velocity of plate is inversely proportional to the thickness of plate, but a good vibration isolation effect can be reached by increasing the thickness of plate.

Key words: mechanics of explosion, underwater explosion, shock wave, air backed plane plate, one dimension plane wave