Specifics of Explosion-Venting Structures Providing Acceptable Indoor Explosion Loads

Abstract

This article experimentally and theoretically demonstrates that the presence of blast-relief openings (windows) equipped with explosion-venting structures (EVS) allows explosive pressure to be reduced to a safe level (2–4 kPa). We provide results of model and full-scale experiments aimed at studying the influence of EVS parameters of blast-relief openings in explosion-hazardous buildings on the intensity of explosive loads. It was demonstrated that the maximum explosive-pressure value inside EVS-equipped buildings depends on the EVS start-to-open pressure, the structure’s response rate (lag), and characteristic dimension of the premises. Thus, each particular building requires individual selection of EVS parameters, which provide a safe level of excessive pressure in case of an explosive accident. This aspect, however, prevents the widespread use of EVS at explosion-hazardous sites. This article offers an modest upgrade of the explosion-venting structure that provides an indoor pressure equal to the EVS start-to-open pressure. The suggested innovation excludes the possibility of a significant increase in explosive pressure due to an EVS response delay. The efficiency of the suggested technical upgrade was proven by numerical experiments and indirectly by experimental studies aimed at exploring the physical processes associated with the opening of EVSs after an explosion accident. The use of upgraded EVSs will allow for provision of a known maximum level of the explosion load should an explosion event occur in an EVS-equipped room.