Abstract.A simple two-dimensional square cavity model is used to study shock attenuating effects of dust suspension in air. The GRP scheme for compressible flows was extended to simulate the fluid dynamics of dilute dust suspensions, employing the conventional two-phase approximation. A planar shock of constant intensity propagated in pure air over flat ground and diffracted into a square cavity filled with a dusty quiescent suspension. Shock intensities were Ms = 1.30 and Ms = 2.032, dust loading ratios were α = 1 and α = 5, and particle diameters were d = 1, 10 and 50 µm. It was found that the diffraction patterns in the cavity were decisively attenuated by the dust suspension, particularly for the higher loading ratio. The particle size has a pronounced effect on the flow and wave pattern developed inside the cavity. Wall pressure histories were recorded for each of the three cavity walls, showing a clear attenuating effect of the dust suspension.

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