Using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) for Blast Wave Propagation under Structure

Abstract

In recent years, improvised explosive devices has been an aspect of crusades by terrorist or movements around the world. The blast wave propagation of an explosive detonation can cause disastrous damage on the buildings, vehicles and also injuries to vehicle occupants. Full scale blast tests are expensive and time consuming but by using computational based numerical simulations can virtually predict these wave propagations and minimize the need of experimental testing. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) is a common tool to do an analysis of free-field blast wave and against structure. This paper presents two different blast analyses; free field air blast and blast loading towards a structure using ANSYS FLUENT software. A high explosive of 1 kg blast peak overpressure data from an experiment has been patched at the specific domain of the symmetry plane. The computed results were found to be in agreement with theoretical and additional experimental data. The verified free field air blast model was expanded to study the blast loading response towards a structure. It was found that developed CFD can be further used to predict the blast wave propagation subjected to the vehicle structures or buildings.