Composite wall test-chamber assessment for hydrogen blast loads

Simplified energy based analytical models and close form solutions are used to evaluate the limiting quasi-static and impulsive over-pressure transient response of a composite wall test-chamber, which is validated and confirmed with experimental observations using controlled hydrogen combustion tests. Further a detail three-dimensional transient finite element simulation is presented to compare the test results with the numerical results. The effectiveness of evolved procedures is highlighted in the context of the blast resistance evaluation of experimental facilities besides the other important infrastructures that might be subjected to hydrogen blast loads. Despite the known limitations of the simplified analytical models and close form solutions, its usefulness is emphasized to develop fundamental understanding for arriving at sound engineering judgment for conducting blast experiments in a safe manner. With this background, the interpretation of the associated detail three-dimensional transient dynamic finite element analysis results is shown to be consistent and in good agreement with the test observations.