An Experimental Study of Methods for Mitigating Blast and Fragment Hazards from a Large Exploding Tank
Abstract
Methods for mitigating blast pressures and fragments from a large steel tank filled with 630 lbs of Otto fuel were investigated experimentally. Methods for mitigating the debris threat caused by the breakup of a reinforced concrete bay that housed the fuel tank were also investigated. The Otto fuel was assumed to have a TNT equivalency of 1.0. Several mitigation techniques were investigated during a one-fifth scale test series including: sand fill around the Otto fuel tank and concrete bay, a steel plate catch system for fragments and debris, a high strength fiber wrap on the walls of the bay, and blasting mats around the bay. All the concepts included some amount of sand fill around the tank. Substantial reductions in blast overpressure hazards were measured in all cases, but concrete debris throw distances were not reduced to acceptable distances. A case where the fuel tank was located in a large sand berm outside the bay was modeled in a subsequent one-third scale test series and acceptable reductions in both blast overpressure and fragment hazards were measured. The reduction in the peak pressure and impulse measured during both test series was found to be a function of the scaled radius of the sand placed around the charge and scaled standoff distance.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Aug 01, 1996
- Accession Number
- ADA516798
Entities
People
- Charles J. Oswald
- Darrell D. Barker