Numerical simulation of blast wave oscillation effects on a premixed methane/air explosion in closed-end ducts

This paper investigated the effects of blast wave oscillation on the overpressure of premixed methane/air explosions by numerical simulations and experiments. The AutoReaGas 3D code and a duct were used in the study. The oscillation induced by the repeat reflection of a blast wave in a closed-end duct was observed by high-speed camera. There was an oscillation zone in the blast wave which exhibited some saw-toothed characteristics. This explained why the overpressure in closed-end ducts was higher than that in open-end ducts. In addition, some of the peak overpressure was even higher than the C–J pressure of 1.76 MPa. The peak overpressures at the ducts' ends were higher than at other measurement points for 5 m, 10 m, and 15 m long ducts. This was mainly due to the reflection of the blast wave. The oscillating period increased with increasing duct length, and could be calculated by t = 0.0003 + 0.00198 L. However, the duct's diameter had no significant influence on the oscillation's period. The amplitude increased with increases in the duct length, except for the case of a 20 m long duct, and increased with decreases in the ducts' diameter. In addition, the peak overpressures in ducts of the same length/diameter ratio were similar. The peak overpressure increased with the increase of the length/diameter ratio, and the maximum value of the peak overpressure in the ducts had the same trend. However, the overpressure did not increase when the length/diameter ratio reached 250.

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► Blast wave oscillation made overpressure much higher in closed-end ducts.
► Oscillating period and amplitude in closed-end ducts increased with duct length.
► Maximum overpressure increased with duct length as length/diameter less than 250.