Numerical modeling of explosion of reinforced concrete magazine : effects of explosive configuration

Abstract

The project is aimed to minimize the land required for the clearance zone measured from the hazardous sources such as explosive-storing magazine to ensure efficient uses of the land are being carried out in a land-scarce country like Singapore. The direction of this project study is aimed to explore the effect of different explosive configuration, which is the arrangement of a certain load of explosive, through numerical simulation and computation. Previous studies and experiments had shown and concluded that the arrangement of the explosive, for example the TNT will result in different break-up patterns of the reinforced concrete structure as well as the dispersion of the debris to the surrounding areas. The results obtained and observed from the student simulation had shown that different explosive configuration in the reinforced concrete structure actually resulted in different pressure and impulse on different part and section of the concrete roof of the structure. This will actually cause different dispersion of the concrete roof particles and different resultant velocities are generated as a result. This will affect the direction as well as the velocity and distance of the resultant flying debris from the concrete roof to the surrounding area. It is concluded that further research and analysis are required as the observations and analysis are based purely from the computer numerical model LS-DYNA. Actual experiments of the simulation with high-tech equipments to record the effects are recommended to be conducted to obtain results to compare with the LS-DYNA results.