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A three-dimensional simulation of the effects of obstacle blockage ratio on the explosion wave in a tunnel

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Abstracts

In this paper, a three-dimensional simulation has been performed to investigate the potential consequences of flammable vapor explosion in a tunnel with an obstacle, the obstacle with different area blockage ratios (10, 20, 30 and 40%). The blast wave shape, increase in the maximum explosion overpressure, and the arrival time of peak pressure in the vicinity of the obstacle with different blockage ratios have been characterized. The simulation results show that the configuration of the blast wave was remarkably compressed due to the effects of obstacle and the deformation process which can be divided into four stages. The influence of blockage ratio on the maximum overpressure and the arrival time of peak pressure were mainly reflected in the back of the obstacle 1 m from the ground, and the maximum overpressure for this location decreases as the blockage ratio increases. Meanwhile, the maximum overpressure of 10% blockage ratio is 57% higher than that of 40% blockage ratio for the location of the back of obstacle. The arrival time of peak pressures for the location of the back of obstacle is delayed as the blockage ratio increases. The maximum overpressure under the tunnel ceiling showed an opposite trend between the location of the front of the obstacle and the location behind the obstacle. In the front of the obstacle, the maximum overpressure under the tunnel ceiling increases as the blockage ratio increases; however, it decreases as the blockage ratio increases in the back of the obstacle. What’s more, the comparison of this paper’s data and the results from available are published. It was found that the simulation results in this article are consistent with the experimental results of studies.

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Acknowledgements

This study is financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) through Grants 51576212 and 51622403. The authors appreciate the supports deeply.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Disaster Prevention Science and Safety Technology, Railway Campus, Central South University, Changsha, 410075, Hunan, People’s Republic of China

    Xiaolong Zhao, Changkun Chen, Jie Chen, Qingzhong Chen & Dongyue Zhao

  2. Beijing Key Laboratory of Metro Fire and Passenger Transportation Safety, China Academy of Safety Science and Technology, Beijing, 100012, People’s Republic of China

    Congling Shi

  3. Hefei Institute for Public Safety Research, Tsinghua University, Hefei, 230601, People’s Republic of China

    Xiaolong Zhao

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  1. Xiaolong Zhao
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  2. Changkun Chen
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  3. Congling Shi
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  4. Jie Chen
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Correspondence to Changkun Chen or Congling Shi.

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Zhao, X., Chen, C., Shi, C. et al. A three-dimensional simulation of the effects of obstacle blockage ratio on the explosion wave in a tunnel. J Therm Anal Calorim 143, 3245–3256 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10973-020-09777-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10973-020-09777-7

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