Development of Methane-Air Deflagration-Driven Blast Wave Simulator I: Geometric and Structural Design

LI Zhan; FANG Qin; LIU Wenyuan; YAN Haichun; LIN Yushu; TANG Baijian

doi:10.11883/bzycj-2025-0342

Article Contents

Article Navigation > Explosion And Shock Waves > 2026 > Accepted Manuscript

LI Zhan, FANG Qin, LIU Wenyuan, YAN Haichun, LIN Yushu, TANG Baijian. Development of Methane-Air Deflagration-Driven Blast Wave Simulator I: Geometric and Structural Design[J]. Explosion And Shock Waves. doi: 10.11883/bzycj-2025-0342

Citation:

LI Zhan, FANG Qin, LIU Wenyuan, YAN Haichun, LIN Yushu, TANG Baijian. Development of Methane-Air Deflagration-Driven Blast Wave Simulator I: Geometric and Structural Design[J]. Explosion And Shock Waves. doi: 10.11883/bzycj-2025-0342

Citation:

LI Zhan, FANG Qin, LIU Wenyuan, YAN Haichun, LIN Yushu, TANG Baijian. Development of Methane-Air Deflagration-Driven Blast Wave Simulator I: Geometric and Structural Design[J]. Explosion And Shock Waves. doi: 10.11883/bzycj-2025-0342

PDF( 3581 KB)

Development of Methane-Air Deflagration-Driven Blast Wave Simulator I: Geometric and Structural Design

doi: 10.11883/bzycj-2025-0342

1.
State Key Laboratory of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation of Explosion and Impact, Army Engineering University, Nanjing 210000, Jiangsu, China
2.
School of civil engineering, Suzhou University of Science and Technology, Suzhou 215000, China

Received Date: 2025-10-14
Rev Recd Date: 2026-03-05

Available Online: 2026-03-10

Abstract

Abstract

Efficiently achieving plane wave loading on the test specimen is a key technical issue in the design of blast wave simulators. Based on the existing device, testing data of large-scale shock tubes, and LS-DYNA software, numerical models of blast wave propagation in simulators were established. Numerical simulations were conducted to develop a safe, economical, and reusable blast wave simulator. A quantitative method for assessing the uniformity of overpressure load on the loading area was proposed. Numerical analyses were performed to investigate the influence of the shape and length of the expansion section and the length of the conditioning section on the uniformity of overpressure load on the loading area. Key structural parameters, including the wall thickness of the expansion and conditioning sections, as well as the spacing and height of the stiffeners, were numerically optimized. Validation tests were conducted on the blast wave simulator. It is found that the established numerical model can accurately reproduce the blast wave propagation, and the prediction results show good agreement with the testing data. Taking the errors of overpressure peak value and arrival time as indicators, the quantitative evaluation of overpressure load uniformity on the loading area is achieved. Considering the balance between technical and economic factors, the developed blast wave simulator is designed with a symmetrically configured expansion section 3 m in length. The length of the conditioning section can be extended as much as the actual investment allows. Based on the numerical results, the wall thickness of both the expansion and conditioning sections is determined to be 30 mm. The height and spacing of the stiffeners are both recommended to be 150 mm. The results of validation tests confirm that the geometric and structural design meets the requirements of blast loads and structural resistance, and the developed simulator is suitable for component-level tests.
- blast wave simulator,
- expansion section,
- conditioning section,
- LS-DYNA,
- structural design

FullText(HTML)

References(20)

References

[1]	陈德, 吴昊, 徐世林, 等. 单向砌体填充墙激波管试验和动力行为分析 [J]. 爆炸与冲击, 2023, 43(8): 085103. DOI: 10.11883/bzycj-2023-0147. CHEN D, WU H, XU S L, et al. Shock tube tests and dynamic behavior analyses on one-way masonry-infilled walls [J]. Explosion and Shock Waves, 2023, 43(8): 085103. DOI: 10.11883/bzycj-2023-0147.
[2]	JOHNSON J, XU M, JACQUES E. Predicting the self-centering behavior of hybrid FRP-steel reinforced concrete beams under blast loading [J]. Engineering Structures, 2021, 247: 113117. DOI: 10.1016/j.engstruct.2021.113117.
[3]	MANDER T J, LOWAK M J, POLCYN M A. Development of blast response limits for load-bearing prestressed concrete panels using full-scale shock tube test data [C]//Structures Congress 2017. Denver: American Society of Civil Engineers, 2017: 197-208. DOI: 10.1061/9780784480397.017.
[4]	ISMAIL A G, EZZELDIN M, EL-DAKHAKHNI W, et al. Blast load simulation using conical shock tube systems [J]. International Journal of Protective Structures, 2020, 11(2): 135–158. DOI: 10.1177/2041419619858098.
[5]	张坤玉, 陈德, 吴昊. 高压气体驱动激波管的数值模拟与参数影响分析 [J]. 高压物理学报, 2023, 37(3): 033301. DOI: 10.11858/gywlxb.20220704. ZHANG K Y, CHEN D, WU H. Numerical simulation and parametric analysis of high-pressure gas-driven shock tube [J]. Chinese Journal of High Pressure Physics, 2023, 37(3): 033301. DOI: 10.11858/gywlxb.20220704.
[6]	郭丁, 孙渊博, 葛云心, 等. 基于大型激波管氢氧爆轰驱动方式产生冲击波波形调控的数值模拟 [J]. 爆炸与冲击, 2025, 45(9): 092102. DOI: 10.11883/bzycj-2024-0300. GUO D, SUN Y B, GE Y X, et al. Numerical study of shock wave generated by hydrogen-oxygen detonation in a large shock tube [J]. Explosion and Shock Waves, 2025, 45(9): 092102. DOI: 10.11883/bzycj-2024-0300.
[7]	GAN E C J. Experimental and numerical investigation of shock wave propagation in an advanced blast simulator [D]; Wollongong: University of Wollongong, 2020.
[8]	GAN E C J, REMENNIKOV A, RITZEL D, et al. Approximating a far-field blast environment in an advanced blast simulator for explosion resistance testing [J]. International Journal of Protective Structures, 2020, 11(4): 468–493. DOI: 10.1177/2041419620911133.
[9]	GAN E C J, REMENNIKOV A, RITZEL D. Blast waveform tailoring using controlled venting in blast simulators and shock tubes [J]. Defence Technology, 2024, 37: 14–26. DOI: 10.1016/j.dt.2023.11.026.
[10]	刘瑞朝, 任辉启, 徐翔云. 大型爆炸激波管数值模拟 [J]. 防护工程, 2009, 31(1): 31–35. LIU R C, REN H Q, XU X Y. Numerical simulation of large blast simulators [J]. Protective Engineering, 2009, 31(1): 31–35.
[11]	刘瑞朝, 周松柏. 大型爆炸激波管出口段爆炸波传播的数值模拟 [C]//第2届全国工程安全与防护学术会议论文集. 第2届全国工程安全与防护学术会议论, 北京: 中国岩石力学与工程学会, 2010: 740–744.
[12]	JOHNSON C F, O'DANIEL J L, DALLRIVA F D, et al. Blast load simulator experiments for computational model validation: Report 1: ERDC/GSL TR-16-27 [R]. USA: U. S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center, 2016.
[13]	IRSHIDAT M, AL-OSTAZ A, CHENG A H D, et al. Nanoparticle reinforced polymer for blast protection of unreinforced masonry wall: laboratory blast load simulation and design models [J]. Journal of Structural Engineering, 2011, 137(10): 1193–1204. DOI: 10.1061/(ASCE)ST.1943-541X.0000361.
[14]	程帅, 童念雪, 刘文祥, 等. 基于高压气体驱动的爆炸波模拟激波管冲击波衰减历程控制方法 [J]. 爆炸与冲击, 2024, 44(5): 052201. DOI: 10.11883/bzycj-2023-0094. CHENG S, TONG N X, LIU W X, et al. A control method for attenuation history of shock wave generated by blast simulation shock tube based on high pressure gas driving technic [J]. Explosion and Shock Waves, 2024, 44(5): 052201. DOI: 10.11883/bzycj-2023-0094.
[15]	张仕忠, 李进平, 康越, 等. 激波管模拟产生近场爆炸冲击波 [J]. 爆炸与冲击, 2024, 44(12): 121434. DOI: 10.11883/bzycj-2024-0204. ZHANG S Z, LI J P, KANG Y, et al. Generation of near-field blast wave by means of shock tube [J]. Explosion And Shock Waves, 2024, 44(12): 121434. DOI: 10.11883/bzycj-2024-0204.
[16]	方秦, 李展, 陈力, 等. 地下综合管廊空间内燃气爆炸模拟试验装置和系统: CN202010047344.3 [P]. 2022-06-09. FANG Q, LI Z, CHEN L, et al. Gas explosion simulation test device and system in underground comprehensive pipe gallery space: CN202010047344.3 [P]. 2022-06-09.
[17]	LI Z, CHEN L, YAN H C, et al. Gas explosions of methane-air mixtures in a large-scale tube [J]. Fuel, 2021, 285: 119239. DOI: 10.1016/j.fuel.2020.119239.
[18]	KOVAL A, SZABO A. Modified “Rankine-Hugoniot” shock fitting technique: Simultaneous solution for shock normal and speed [J]. Journal of Geophysical Research Space Physics, 2008, 113: A10110. DOI: 10.1029/2008JA013337.
[19]	YANG S L, LIU Z C, WANG S F, et al. Dynamic response and failure analysis for urban bridges under far-field blast loads [J]. Engineering Structures, 2023, 285: 116043. DOI: 10.1016/j.engstruct.2023.116043.
[20]	任辉启, 王世合, 周松柏, 等. 大型爆炸波模拟装置研制及其应用 [C]//第十六届全国激波与激波管学术会议论文集. 洛阳: 中国力学学会激波与激波管专业委员会, 2014: 10–22.