Preliminary analysis of blast

loads for IN 791 project

Anirudh Saboo
August 13, 2018

Department of Civil Engineering

Outline
• Blast load on rigid column
• Comparison of spherical v/s cylindrical charge

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Blast load on rigid column

Figure adopted from MCEER-09-2010 3

Modelling Strategy
Numerical Model

1D wedge model of air and explosive

Remapping of 1D wedge model into 3D model

Construction of 3D model

Solution

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1 D model
• Radius (R) of air wedge : 3000 mm
• Radius of TNT: 527 mm
• Mesh size (1D): 0.25 mm
• Mesh size (3D): 20 mm
• Air Domain (3D): 4 m x 0.6 m x 6 m
• 1/8 model is adopted for 3D modelling

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3D model

Remapping stage Final stage

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Results

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Results

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Results

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 Results
Monitor Location Blast wave parameter UFC-3-340 Sherkhar Trail 2
Location A Reflected overpressure (MPa) 79.2 46.8 48.07
Reflected impulse (MPa –msec) 32 20.5 20.4
Time of arrival (msec) 0.65 0.70 0.80
Location B Reflected overpressure (MPa) 36 26.8 28.69
Reflected impulse (MPa –msec) 14 8.43 8.29
Time of arrival (msec) 1 0.95 1

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Reasons for discrepancy
• UFC assumes an infinite rigid surface
• Clearing effects results in decreasing impulse
• Validity of ideal gas at elevated temperature

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Spherical v/s cylindrical
• Charge taken : 80 kg
• Cylindrical aspect ratio (L/D): 1
• Scaled distance (Z): 1,1.25,1.50,1.75
• Mesh size: 10 mm
• 1/2 model is adopted for 2D modelling

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Spherical

Initial Stage Final stage

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Cylindrical

Initial Stage Final stage

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Conclusion
• Cylindrical has high axial overpressure than
radial
• Spherical has both axial and radial pressure
• For close values cylindrical charge dominates
over spherical charge (for same charge)

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References
• Sherkar, P., Whittaker, A. S., & Aref, A. J.
(2010). Modeling the effects of detonations of
high explosives to inform blast-resistant
design (p. 236). MCEER.

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Future work
• Simulate damage in steel column, RC beam
and RC column subjected to blast

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Thank you!

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