Internal explosion tests for scaled subsurface magazines

Abstract

A subsurface magazine is proposed to reduce the debris and the air-blast pressure caused by an accidental explosion. First, 1/20-scale indoor explosion model tests for subsurface magazines were conducted to examine the characteristics of an air-burst and ground shock vibration. It was found from the test results that the peak blast pressure ( P0) for an overburden thickness ( T) of 50 cm was 0.84–0.98 times that for T = 15 cm, and the P0 for a loading density R = 9.0 kg/m3 was 1.09–1.39 times that for R = 4.5 kg/m3. It was also found that the maximum ground shock velocity Vmax for T = 50 cm was 0.57–1.07 times that for T = 15 cm. Second, the P0 was formulated as a function of the scaled distance Z, T, and R. Third, the Vmax was formulated as a function of Z and T. Finally, these formulae were validated using the test data obtained by performing a 1/10-scale field test.