Risk Assessment Using Overpressure and Impulse for Abnormal Explosion of Composite Solid Propellants

Abstract

In this study, the risks were investigated by probabilistic analysis of the effects on the person and structure located around the composite solid propellant when it explodes abnormally. Two types of solid propellants of different sizes and three TNT equivalents of composite propellants were applied to empirical correlation to derive incident pressure and impulse. These were used in probit analysis, and the effects on the person and structure were quantitatively analyzed to determine the risk of solid propellant explosion. The larger the propellant and the more the TNT equivalent, the higher the incident pressure and impulse. Moreover, the amount of propellant had a more significant effect on the impulse than the incident pressure. The effects of the incident pressure and impulse on human were observed to be greater in the order of probability of ruptured eardrums, death from head impact, death from whole-body displacement impact, and death from lung damage. Furthermore, the effects on the structure were observed to be greater in the order of probability of breakage of window, minor damage, major damage, and collapse of the building.