On Blast Pressure Analysis Due to a Partially Confined Explosion: III. Afterburning Effect

Abstract

This paper aims at extending our understanding with regard to some characteristics of an interior explosion within a room with limited venting. An interior explosion may be the result of an ammunition storage explosion, or an explosive charge as part of a terrorist action or a warhead explosion that follows its penetration into a closed space in a military action. Full scale experiments have been performed with a TNT charge detonated at the center of a single room sized space with rigid boundaries. The room has a limited size opening for venting at the ceiling. Numerical simulations of the problem have been performed using AUTODYN Ver. 12.1 and compared with the experimental measurements. Some deviations between the measured pressure and the predicted pressure motivated the present study in an attempt to study the effect of the additional energy released due to the burning of the detonation products reacting with the surrounding oxygen. The study that is described in this paper enhanced our understanding. Incorporation of this effect considerably improved the predictions. The present study clarified when, how and to what extent the afterburning should be introduced in the analysis.