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Explosions in Complex Geometries - A Comparison of Several Approaches

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scientific article
Blast Load Analysis
2011
Abstract
For the design and calculation of structures loaded by air blast waves, especially from inside the structure, assumptions on the applied load are needed. This paper presents several simulation methods for the air blast loading of structures and their ability to be used for complex geometries. Experimental-analytical pressure-time functions of spherical load conditions applied to the structure by disregarding the air are not applicable in such cases because they do not account for reflections, shadowing and channelling effects. Fluid calculations, which model also the solid explosive, are very expensive due to the extremely small elements for the explosive and the air nearby. This paper therefore presents a review of a well-known simulation method, which uses a balloon with compressed air instead of the explosive. A procedure is developed which makes it possible to determine the overpressure of such a balloon for a given size of the explosive more accurately than before. The pressure-time function and the impulse-distance function of calculations using this method show good correspondence with experimental-analytical data. The functioning of the method is verified against experimental results.
Authors
LARCHER Martin; CASADEI Folco
Year
2011
Publisher
Multi Science Publishing
Citation
Larcher M, Casadei F. Explosions in Complex Geometries - A Comparison of Several Approaches . International Journal of Protective Structures 1 (2); 2010. p. 169-196. JRC46723
Identifiers
JRCJRC46723
ISSN2041-4196
DOI10.1260/2041-4196.1.2.169