Numerical simulation of a novel blast wave mitigation device

Abstract

This paper proposes a novel blast wave mitigation device, consisting of a piston-cylinder assembly. A shock wave is induced inside the device when it is subject to a blast wave. The shock wave propagates inside the device and is reflected repeatedly. The physical processes within the blast wave mitigation device are simulated numerically. Numerical predictions are in excellent agreement with analytical solutions for special cases of the investigated problem that are available in the literature. The peak pressure on the base of the device caused by the blast wave is studied using a number of design parameters. The numerical simulation shows that, although the transmitted impulse remains practically unchanged, the peak pressure of the blast wave can be reduced by as much as 98%, or even higher, depending on the design parameters chosen. r

Experimental Investigation of a Novel Blast Wave Mitigation Device

“…While the impulse of the blast wave is almost conserved, this results in decrease of the maximum pressure over an order of magnitude. A numerical model was developed [15] that can predict the pressure of the blast wave transmitted through the device. The Van Leer flux vector splitting method coupled with the monotone upstream-centered scheme for conservation laws (MUSCL) and Runge-Kutta scheme was applied to solve the Euler equations governing the shock wave propagation process within the blast wave mitigation device.…”

“…A two-step Runge-Kutta explicit scheme was used to solve the Euler equations. The detailed numerical scheme and solution algorithm have been described in [15]. Using the numerical model, the effects of some important design parameters, including the mass of the piston and the cylinder length, on the blast wave mitigation were studied.…”

“…The reflected pressure profile, as shown in Fig. 8, is used as input data to the numerical model, which is developed in [15]. The peak pressure on the base of the blast wave mitigation device, predicted by the numerical simulation, is about 3 MPa, as shown in Fig.…”

“…Results showed that the overpressures behind the wall are 30% to 60% of those without a wall. Su et al [15] developed a numerical model of a novel blast wave mitigation device which consists of a piston-cylinder assembly. Through the shock wave propagation and reflection inside the blast wave mitigation device, the blast wave can be mitigated.…”

“…This blast wave mitigation device is effective for the mitigation of blast waves generated by high energy explosion. In this paper, the blast wave mitigation device proposed in [15] is investigated experimentally for the first time. The device consists of a piston-cylinder assembly, which is shown in Fig.…”