Effects of an Explosion-Proof Wall on Shock Wave Parameters and Safe Area Prediction

Abstract

To study the influences of an explosion-proof wall on shock wave parameters, an air explosion protection experiment was performed, the time history of shock wave pressure at different positions before and after the explosion-proof wall was established, and the characteristics of shock wave impulse and dynamic pressure were analyzed. The explosion-proof working conditions of five different diffraction angles were simulated and analyzed using Autodyn software(2019R3). Results indicated the following findings. The explosion-proof wall exerted an evident attenuation effect on the explosion shock wave, but considerable pressure still existed at the top of the explosion-proof wall. Overpressure behind the wall initially increased and then decreased. The larger the diffraction angle, the faster the attenuation speed of the diffraction overpressure of the shock wave in the air behind the wall. The history curve of shock wave pressure exhibited an evident bimodal structure. The shock wave diffraction of the wall made the shock wave bimodal structure behind the wall more prominent. The characteristics of the bimodal structure behind the wall (the interval time of overpressure peak Δt was less than the normal phase time of the diffracted shock wave T+) caused the shock wave impulse to stack rapidly, significantly improving its damage capability. The peak value of dynamic pressure on the oncoming surface was approximately two times the peak value of overpressure, and the inertia of air molecules resulted in a longer positive duration of dynamic pressure than overpressure. The maximum overpressure on the ground behind the explosion-proof wall appeared at approximately two times the height of the explosion-proof wall, while the maximum overpressure in the air behind the explosion-proof wall appeared at approximately one times the height of the explosion-proof wall. The relatively safe areas on the ground and in the air behind the wall were approximately 4–4.5 times and 3.5–4 times the height of the explosion-proof wall, respectively.