Experimental and simulation study of afterburning effect for blast load in confined cabin

Abstract

ObjectivesThe afterburning effect need to be considered when TNT explodes inside a confined space. In order to accurately analyze the internal blast load, it is necessary to explore the relationship between the afterburning energy value and the charge volume ratio. MethodsThe explosion experiments of 5 different masses of TNT were performed in the confined spaces filled with air and helium. Based on three different methods of chemical reaction analysis, energy conservation law and hypothetical isentropic process, the corresponding afterburning energy of five different charge volume ratios is calculated. The numerical simulation of explosion in confined space considering afterburning effect was realized by ANSYS/AUTODYN program.ResultsThe comparison between quasi-static pressure simulation results and experimental results shows that the theoretical value of afterburning energy calculated by chemical reaction analysis method can only be used as the upper limit value, the accuracy of energy conservation method depends on the adiabatic index of mixed gas, and the error of assumed isentropic process method is stable between 4% ～ 7%. Different afterburning energy release processes do not change the final quasi-static pressure, but only the reflected shock wave pressure. ConclusionsThe research results can provide more accurate input load for the design and damage assessment of anti-explosion structures.

Keywords

• internal blast load
• afterburning effect
• energy release
• quasi-static pressure