Applicability of a Design Assessment and Management for the Current Ammunition Depots in Taiwan

Hsin-hung Lai

doi:10.3390/app10031041

Abstract

In Taiwan, many ammunition depots have become outdated after having been in service for a long period of time, and if they are not properly managed, then accidental explosions might erupt inside. Leakage pressure after an explosion is closely related to the opening of the structure and the thickness of the wall. In order to reduce the risk of implosion, it is necessary to design a new structure or strengthen the existing ammunition libraries for the storage of ammunition required for combat. In order to evaluate the applicability of an existing ammunition depot design, making management simpler and safer, this study integrates the scale model experiment of an ammunition depot with computer simulation, the arbitrary Lagrangian–Eulerian (ALE) algorithm in ANSYS/LS-DYNA software, and it compares the results with the UFC3-340-02 specification in order to verify its applicability. The results show that computer simulation can verify that the data related to an implosion of an ammunition depot is similar to the specification. Therefore, the design results of the ammunition depot optimized by computer simulation can be used as a reference for the construction or strengthening of ammunition depots.

Highlights

This study poses the risk of accidental blast in the case of improper management of an ammunition depot
In case of an internal blast, blast pressure will leak through the vent openings of the ammunition depot or blast through the fragile walls; flying debris and objects are hazardous to surrounding buildings, personnel, and equipment
A conservative design can be implemented with maximum values. In respect of this topic, in 1975 [6], Keenan and Tancreto conducted a study on leakage pressure under various types of vent openings in the internal blast in an ammunition depot, and the results showed that the size and location of a vent opening had a tremendous impact on the leakage pressure

Summary

Introduction

This study poses the risk of accidental blast in the case of improper management of an ammunition depot. In case of an internal blast, blast pressure will leak through the vent openings of the ammunition depot or blast through the fragile walls; flying debris and objects are hazardous to surrounding buildings, personnel, and equipment. The impact of the thickness and strength of walls of an ammunition depot on leakage pressure requires further study [2,3,4,5]. The purpose of this study is mainly to discuss the impact of vent opening and fragile walls on leakage pressure subsequent to an accidental blast of an ammunition depot.

Objectives

Results

Conclusion