A Computational Investigation of Various Water-Induced Explosion Mitigation Mechanisms
Abstract
Interactions of the detonation-product gas, shell-casing fragments, soil ejecta and various other debris with bulk water barriers surrounding the explosive have been demonstrated to have a potentially major beneficial effect in mitigation of the effects of an explosion. In the present work various computational methods ranging from those based on thermo-chemistry of the detonation/combustion chemical reactions to those involving transient, nonlinear-dynamics based mechanical interactions between detonation products, air and water are used to better understand and quantify the beneficial effects of various potential explosion-mitigation mechanisms. In particular, the absorption of the detonation energy by water, water-aerosolization induced reduction in the shock speed, transfer of momentum from the explosion products to water and deceleration/suppression of the combustion reactions are examined computationally. The results obtained show that water evaporation which consumes a substantial portion of the detonation energy plays a dominant role in the overall water-induced explosion-mitigation process. The detonation-product-to-water momentum transfer which causes water aerosolization, on the other hand, is found to be a key prerequisite for efficient explosion mitigation.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 2007
- Accession Number
- ADA595495
Entities
People
- B. A. Cheeseman
- Bhaskar Pandurangan
- C. L. Zhao
- Mica Grujicic
Organizations
- Clemson University